Toyota honorary chairman Shoichiro Toyoda dies aged 97

Former Toyota brag and honorary president Shoichiro Toyoda, who spearheaded the Japanese manufacturer’s translation into a planetary car brand, has died successful Japan aged 97. 

The lad of Toyota laminitis Kiichiro Toyoda, Shoichiro began his vocation astatine the steadfast successful 1952. He went connected to go president of Toyota successful 1982 earlier assuming the presumption of president from 1992 to 1999. 

In total, Toyoda served connected Toyota’s committee for 57 years, making him the firm’s longest-serving director. He took the presumption of honorary president successful 2009 and remained successful the relation until his decease connected Tuesday 14 February 2023. 

Japan’s premier minister, Fumio Kishida, said: "Shoichiro Toyoda raised Toyota to go the world's apical car maker”. 

An influential engineer, Toyoda led the company’s enlargement into manufacturing successful the US, which helped the steadfast to cement its presumption arsenic a satellite powerfulness successful the automotive manufacture and revolutionised its outgo operation and merchandise localisation. 

He besides introduced a strategy of “total prime control”, which allowed Toyota’s workers to suggest improvements to accumulation successful bid to slash defects - a strategy that was aboriginal replicated by different car makers. 

After helium took the presumption of president successful 1982, Toyota’s conveyance income successful the US accrued from 711,993 to 1.1 cardinal successful 1990 - an summation of 49%. 

Toyoda besides spearheaded the improvement of Lexus, Toyota’s premium and luxury sub-brand, which was founded successful 1989 by Eiji Toyoda, who Shoichiro succeeded arsenic president.

In addition, helium presided implicit the motorboat of the Toyota Prius, which kick-started the company’s improvement of hybrid powertrains. 

Toyoda’s decease comes a period aft his son, Akio Toyoda, announced helium would measurement down arsenic president and CEO of the company. 

Akio, who assumed the relation of president successful 2009, is an avid petrolhead who actively promoted Toyota and Lexus sports cars during his tenure, including the Lexus LFA and Toyota GR Yaris. 

He besides led the company’s archetypal propulsion into battery-electric conveyance production, unveiling a bid of concepts successful 2021.