Honda's new chief: Product development needs more time, better communication to keep quality

Honda's new CEO Takahiro Hachigo is promising to take more time in product development, and to bring his company together as a team to avoid the quality lapses that have led to shrinking profits at the Japanese automaker.

Hachigo, an engineer who has worked in the U.S. as well as China, talked to reporters Monday after his appointment was approved by shareholders and the company board.

Honda's brand image has suffered after a series of massive recalls for popular vehicles in Japan, as well as for defective Takata air bags in global markets.

Hachigo's promise to turn the company around centered on raising the efficiency of global manufacturing and delivering on what he called Honda-like products. But it was a little short on specifics.