AUTOS

Top Honda Executive Quits Suddenly: A key Honda Motor Co. executive who directed wide-ranging reforms at the auto maker last year has resigned suddenly. The resignation of Executive Vice President Shoichiro Irimajiri, 52, is expected to throw Honda, already confronted with slipping Japanese market share and sinking profits, into confusion. Irimajiri, who also served as president of Honda R&D; Co., the company’s research and development arm, was one of Honda’s most able executives and was widely considered next in line to become president. He urged the company to approve his resignation for health reasons, Honda spokesman Shinichi Tanaka said. Irimajiri had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness. Japanese news reports said he was being treated for physical and mental exhaustion.