Toyota: Akio Toyoda is the greatest of the greats
PERSON OF THE YEAR Toyota Motor Corporation President and CEO Akio Toyoda has been named World Car Person of the Year 2021. He was chosen by a panel of more than 90 well-known international journalists. In 2020, under his leadership, Toyota has remained profitable despite Covid-19, securing jobs worldwide. It isAkio [...]
In 2020, Toyota has remained profitable under his leadership despite Covid-19, securing jobs worldwide. Akio Toyoda has succeeded in continuing the steady development of his company toward the era of Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric.
He has also initiated the construction of a Woven City, the real-life prototype of a city of the future. And along the way, Toyoda has also actively participated in motorsports as a driver.
The jury's citation for World Car Person of the Year 2021 states, among other things: "Akio Toyoda is the charismatic president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, where he has successfully repositioned the company over the years."
Joint commitment of all employees
Akio Toyoda: "On behalf of all 360,000 people in our Toyota team worldwide, I thank you for this unheard-of honor. However, please allow me to change the award from Car Person of the Year to Car People of the Year. Because it is the collective effort of all our employees worldwide, as well as dealer partners and suppliers, that has made Toyota what we are today."
Entire professional life for the company
Akio Toyoda joined Toyota in 1984 after graduating with a law degree from Keio University and a master's degree in business administration from Babson College in the United States. After holding positions of responsibility in various divisions in Japan and other areas, he joined the management team in 2000.
He subsequently held various senior and executive vice president positions before being named president of Toyota Motor Corporation in 2009.
