Hiroyuki Yoshino was President of Honda Motor Company, Ltd. As Executive Vice President of Honda Motor Company, Ltd., and President of the Honda Research and Development Company, he was highly regarded in the world’s automotive engineering community. He and his researchers made many important contributions toward creating cars that are more friendly to the environment.

A graduate of Tokyo University’s Aeronautical College, Yoshino was a member of the Honda team that developed emissions controls for auto engines in the late 1960s and early 70s. That work led to Honda’s historic CVCC engine, the first to meet federal emission requirements without a catalytic converter. When he was appointed the chief researcher for Honda R&D, the company stepped up its efforts to develop environmentally friendly cars that get high gas mileage while putting out low emissions.