After a 13-year term as President, Akio Toyoda will become Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation in April 2023. Toyoda, the grandson of Kiichiro Toyoda, founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, was appointed to the position of President in June 2009 after serving in various roles in the company. He has had much publicity as President, not only for his outspoken views but also his strong support for motorsports (where fans know him as ‘Morizo’).

Under Toyoda, Toyota’s product development became less conservative, with more emphasis on performance which led to the creation of the GR sub-brand. Toyoda, 66, is also a competent racing driver and takes part in some events as well as being personally involved in product development. Hopefully, as Chairman, he will continue to have an influence on Toyota and Lexus products.

In more recent times, Toyoda has been among the top industry executives to express the view that only full electrification is the way to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. While not against electrifying vehicles, he feels that there should still be consideration given to the different countries and regions where electrification may not be proceeding at the same pace as developed countries.

Toyota therefore believes a multi-path or multi-technology approach is better to provide practical alternative mobility choices to customers. Hybrid electric vehicle technology, for example, can still contribute to CO₂ reduction in some way – and right away. In this way, Toyoda says that ‘no customer will be left behind [in the move towards carbon neutrality]’.

Toyoda takes over the Chairman’s position from Takeshi Uchiyamada who will be retiring. While Toyota has had many chief engineers, Uchiyamada has a special place in the company’s history as he led the team which developed the Toyota hybrid system in the 1990s. The system was installed in the Prius, which was the world’s first mass-produced vehicle with a hybrid electric powertrain.

Taking Toyoda’s place as President is Koji Sato, presently President of Lexus International, GAZOO Racing Company and Chief Branding Officer. Sato, 53, has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and joined Toyota in 1992.