Mazda has named Hiroyuki Matsumoto as the new head of its European research and development center. The 47-year-old engineer replaces Norihiro Tomita, who has headed the unit since May 2007 and will now be at Mazda’s headquarters in Japan for a management post in its vehicle development center.
It was in 1985 that Matsumoto, an engineer graduate of Kyoto University in Japan, entered Mazda’s product development division. Before this new post, Mitsumoto had served as the general manager for chassis development. He will be stationed at Mazda Motor Europe in Oberursel, near Frankfurt, and will play a key role in adapting the automaker’s cars to European tastes and regulations. He also works closely with Mazda’s European design studio that’s also in Oberursel.
[via autonews – sub. required]
Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots