change in control room toyota, Akio Toyoda, CEO Relinquishes the position of the world’s largest automobile company by volume since 2009 66 years Having led the Japanese firm in the early stages of the most important revolution in the sector with great results. Koji SatoSo far brand manager group and director of LexusWill take over as Toyota’s chief executive officer on April 1, while Toyoda will become chairman of the board of the consortium.
Toyoda took the Japanese brand at a critical moment for world economic crisis And it didn’t take long for him to take his first step to generate cash, selling the plant fremont, CaliforniaWhich managed Tesla together with General Motors, which built its first gigafactory in those facilities.
Electrification, with specifics
Toyoda He will be remembered as one of the automotive leaders who pioneered the most on total electrification, although Toyota Electrified vehicles have been a reference thanks for a model like her prius, the forerunner of the range that, in 2023, offers only ‘ECO’ or ‘zero emissions’ models, thanks to its hybrid or plug-in hybrid systems. its first electric i in 2022, the bZ4XFirst of 30 100% electric models coming by 2030.
sight of Toyoda has happened Precaution, doubts whether customers will be ready to switch to electric mobility and the slow pace of expansion of charging networks for these cars. Solutions such as ‘The Power of End’ strategy for Europe, recently presented in Kenshiki Forum of Brussels, which proposes a range that combines electric cars – six more to come 2026-, hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids and even hydrogen, to be adapted to the customer and the market; Or recent research on the potential of hydrogen in combustion engines are perfect examples of his vision.
However, the path adopted by the industry cannot be ignored, especially considering that Europa will ban any non-electric motor in 2035This way Toyoda could not refrain from announcing an investment plan of 30,000 million euros to launch these 30 Electric by 2030 and total electrification of lexus in 2035,
Toyoda left the position of Japanese conglomerate Max’s leader after 14 years in which he almost always kept Toyota in the highest echelon of global sales and signed milestones such as Best selling brand in USAOvertaking General Motors in 2021. seven51, comes to office to lead the next phase of his electrification, though Toyoda has left a well-defined path.
Sato, a technical approach
Koji SatoMechanical Engineer, started his career toyota in 1992 After leaving university, a firm he never left. After climbing position, in 2016 was appointed Chief Engineer of Lexus taken in 2017be brand directorFor group premium. Furthermore, since 2020 He associates this work with the direction of Gazoo Racing, the racing division of Toyota. in 2021finally got promoted brand manager of the group.
