introduction
JP

team

Production Engineering Section,
Production Engineering Department

Soichiro Matsumoto

Pursuing "mass production,"
which is indispensable for the
social implementation of technology,
through trial and error every day.

Influenced by my father, who named me after "Soichiro Honda" because of his love for cars, I grew up with automobiles being a very familiar presence. As I grew older, I began to challenge myself with motorcycle and car maintenance. By working with my hands, my vague interest in automobiles turned into a strong desire to develop new technologies and mechanisms. Subsequently, I majored in mechanical engineering at university and jumped into the automotive industry in 2021 to fulfill my dreams.
After joining a company, I belonged to a department that aimed to optimize the engine production line. I worked on identifying bottlenecks and overcoming challenges through experiments to produce stable products in both quantity and quality while reducing costs.
While engaging in tasks to brush up existing production lines, I developed the dream of being involved in setting up a production line someday. I admired the senior staff who created the production lines that form the backbone of manufacturing and that fueled my passion to take on larger goals. During this time, the opportunity to work at our company arose. I felt a great possibility in being able to contribute to constructing a production line for batteries that do not yet exist in the world, and I found myself eagerly raising my hand for the opportunity.

While I have learned about engine production through my work, I am still studying batteries. I share the experimental know-how I've cultivated as I continue to go through trial and error every day. Combining the best of Honda and GS Yuasa's technologies and openly sharing each other's strengths has become commonplace in the development field. Regardless of company name, years of service, or title, everyone is recognized as an engineer. Even as a young member, I can participate in discussions on equal footing. The cooperative spirit toward a common goal makes development work very enjoyable, and I look forward to going to work every day.
Recently, I've been feeling a change where not only knowledge and technology but also the development stances of each company are merging, creating new strengths unique to our company. GS Yuasa brings a calm and comprehensive approach to steadily making progress and Honda brings high levels of enthusiasm and drive, as typified by "waigaya" (Honda's lively discussions). By combining these two forces, we are taking bigger and stronger steps toward battery development.

Developing production technology involves repeating steady experiments. We meticulously collect data and make micro-level adjustments through repeated experiments to identify and resolve issues and their causes in the production process.
The reason we can maintain high motivation for these experiments that do not easily lead to goals being met is that turning mass production into reality is the key to the social implementation of technology. Even if advanced technology or products are created, it cannot significantly impact society or change people's lives if enough can't be manufactured. Only when these technologies can be mass-produced with stable quality do they become useful for society. We feel that this is our mission, bearing such an important role, so we work on experiments every day.
As all devices become mobile and the future of energy supplies remains uncertain in modern society, I believe that the world's best batteries we aim to create holds the potential to solve wide-ranging social issues beyond the scope of EVs. I take pride in being deeply involved in making technology that creates the future a reality, and I aim to continue growing, looking forward to the day I can proudly say, "I was part of that."

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