Thursday 26th January 2023

Akio Toyoda steps down as Toyota president

CEOs don't get much cooler than Akio, but the company's future is said to be in good hands

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Toyota president and all-round motoring nut Akio Toyoda is stepping down from his role at the top of the Japanese car giant after 14 years in the job. Toyoda, the grandson of company founder Kiichiro Toyoda, will take up the position of chairman at the firm, with Lexus boss Koji Sato replacing him as Toyota CEO in April.

Toyoda’s time at the helm will be remembered fondly by enthusiasts. That much would be guaranteed by his role in the Lexus LFA story - but the fact that he is chiefly responsible for Toyota's transformation from pensioner-pleaser to performance car champion makes him the most prominent company boss in a generation. His abiding love of motorsport was exemplified by his insistence that Gazoo Racing be brought front and centre, all but replacing Toyota Racing Development (also known as TRD) as the company’s in-house tuner.

The GR team rewarded his support with contenders for the best hot hatch (in the GR Yaris). and sports car (GR86) introduced this decade. Toyoda even took a hands-on approach to development, and was considered Toyota's chief test driver. Let's not forget either that his insistence the company return to racing, resulted in four WRC driver’s championships and five Le Mans wins. If that weren't enough, he's also keen racing driver himself, clocking up Nürburgring 24 Hour appearances in a Lexus LFA and GR Supra GT4 car.

Toyoda’s time at the top has done wonders for the company’s image and it’s a shame to see him step down what was obviously a very hands on job. But worry not, as his successor seems to be cut from the same cloth; along with his Lexus role, Sato also heads up Gazoo Racing, which, ought to mean he sees the value in keeping Toyota at the forefront of endurance racing and rallying. Toyoda leaves behind some mighty big boots to fill - especially as the world's biggest carmaker transitions to an electrified product line - but if he's been as diligent with his succession as everything else, Toyota should be in safe hands. 

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• 2021 Toyota GR Yaris | UK Review
• 2022 Toyota GR86 | PH Review

[Water Fairy]

Well done that man. I wish more CEOs came from the same gene pool. Toyota on their game at the moment.

[trevalvole]

As well as the high profile GR stuff, it shouldn't be forgotten that many of their cooking models now come with double wishbone rear suspension.

[swisstoni]

He must have read PH and realised the game was up with Hydrogen.

[Red6]

He really has helped transform Toyota from granny cart to something with kerb appeal.

[samoht]

From Autocar - explaining his move:

Akio Toyoda said:

Because of my strong passion for cars, I am an old-fashioned person in regards to digitalisation, electric vehicles, and connected cars. I cannot go beyond being a car guy, and that is my limitation.

a sentiment I think many of us here on PH share !

[Water Fairy]

samoht said:

From Autocar - explaining his move:

Akio Toyoda said:

Because of my strong passion for cars, I am an old-fashioned person in regards to digitalisation, electric vehicles, and connected cars. I cannot go beyond being a car guy, and that is my limitation.

a sentiment I think many of us here on PH share !

[FaustF]

Huge respect for him, has helped turn Toyota into the most exciting petrol head brand in the last decade.

Thank you

[Dombilano]

samoht said:

From Autocar - explaining his move:

Akio Toyoda said:

Because of my strong passion for cars, I am an old-fashioned person in regards to digitalisation, electric vehicles, and connected cars. I cannot go beyond being a car guy, and that is my limitation.

a sentiment I think many of us here on PH share !

100%

[The Moose]

Red6 said:

He really has helped transform Toyota from granny cart to something with kerb appeal.

I think he's done very well in the last 14 years however I also think that's a bit harsh on Toyota from the mid-late noughties.

[Charlie_1]

samoht said:

a sentiment I think many of us here on PH share !

Indeed totally agree

[seawise]

That’s some legacy that he leaves with Toyota - enjoy your next chapter Akio-san, what a proper chap. And thanks for the GR Yaris, i love mine !

[Talksteer]

He has pleased a demographic on a niche motoring website and utterly fked Toyota's transition to EVs while wasting billions on hydrogen.

[GT9]

swisstoni said:

He must have read PH and realised the game was up with Hydrogen.

Close, just got off the phone with Akiosan, he said it was because he was distraught by how many boomers were misinterpreting their hydrogen efforts for the second coming of Christ.

[leef44]

Well he certainly put the mojo back into Toyota for the petrolhead.

That's quite an achievement, to be celebrated. This will have also been a big benefit to the brand image.

However, like he says, we are now in a new era.

ICE may you RIP

[swisstoni]

GT9 said:

swisstoni said:

He must have read PH and realised the game was up with Hydrogen.

Close, just got off the phone with Akiosan, he said it was because he was distraught by how many boomers were misinterpreting their hydrogen efforts for the second coming of Christ.

4 hours to scramble? But at least you’re reliable.

[Monster Mash]

samoht said:

From Autocar - explaining his move:

Akio Toyoda said:

Because of my strong passion for cars, I am an old-fashioned person in regards to digitalisation, electric vehicles, and connected cars. I cannot go beyond being a car guy, and that is my limitation.

a sentiment I think many of us here on PH share !

I definitely share that sentiment

[911Spanker]

Monster Mash said:

samoht said:

From Autocar - explaining his move:

Akio Toyoda said:

Because of my strong passion for cars, I am an old-fashioned person in regards to digitalisation, electric vehicles, and connected cars. I cannot go beyond being a car guy, and that is my limitation.

a sentiment I think many of us here on PH share !

I definitely share that sentiment

Same here. The future of the car looks utterly ste.

[MitchT]

Toyota. Toyoda. Toyota. Toyoda. Let's call the whole thing off!

[donteatpeople]

swisstoni said:

He must have read PH and realised the game was up with Hydrogen.

With at least ten BEV models being due in the next five years and reports of Toyota loosing significant amounts of money on the Mirai it seems that they may have figured that out a while ago.

[ecsrobin]

I thought this was a good example of the legacy he is leaving:

Toshihiro Suzuki President of Suzuki Motor said:

"I was very surprised because President Toyoda has made various remarks from the standpoint of the auto industry, and also about Japanese industry. To have somebody who has such passionate thoughts and has made so many comments suddenly quit makes me wonder what will happen in the future. I'd like him to continue to give us guidance regardless of his position."

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-leader-akio-toyoda-step-down-president-chief-executive-2023-01-26/?taid=63d23a0af6f20a0001c39894&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter