Akio Toyoda | |
|---|---|
豊田章男 | |
 Toyoda in 2011 | |
| Born | (1956-05-03)3 May 1956 (age 69) Nagoya, Japan |
| Other names | Morizo Kinoshita |
| Alma mater | Keio University Babson College (MBA) |
| Occupation | Chairman ofToyota |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Shoichiro Toyoda |
Akio Toyoda (豊田 章男,Toyoda Akio; born 3 May 1956) is a Japanese business executive who is thechairman ofToyota. He was previously the company'spresident andchief executive officer (CEO).[1] Toyoda is a great-grandson of the industrialist,Sakichi Toyoda, and a grandson of both the founder of Toyota Motors,Kiichiro Toyoda, and the founder of theTakashimaya department stores corporation, Shinshichi Iida.
On 1 April 2023, Toyoda stepped down as Toyota president and became chairman of the board.[2] Toyota's chief branding officer and president of theLexus division, Koji Sato, succeeded Toyoda as CEO.
Toyoda is the great-grandson of theToyoda Automatic Loom Works founderSakichi Toyoda, and grandson ofToyota Motor Corporation founderKiichiro Toyoda. He was born 3 May 1956, inNagoya, toShoichiro Toyoda and Hiroko (née Mitsui). Toyoda's family line have long dominated the upper management of the family businesses since the days his carpenter-farmer great-great-grandfather, Ikichi Toyoda, taught his son fabrication and carpentry. Akio Toyoda was the chief contender for the family business whenKatsuaki Watanabe was reassigned as Vice-Chairman in the wake of the quality control crisis.[3][4]
Toyoda completed his undergraduate degree in law atKeio University and was awarded his Masters of Finance atBabson College, Massachusetts.[5][6][7] He would join the family business in 1984.
As grandson of the company's founder, Toyoda joined Toyota's board of directors in 2000.[8] In 2005, Toyoda was promoted to the position of executive vice president.[9] In January 2009, it was announced that Toyoda was chosen as the forthcoming president of the company.[10] On 23 June 2009, he was confirmed as the new president, along with four new executive vice presidents and eight new board members.[11][12] The previous president and CEOKatsuaki Watanabe becamevice chairman, replacingKatsuhiro Nakagawa.[13]
In 2012, he was named Autocar's Man of the Year.[14]
As an avid auto racing fan and driver himself, Toyoda has participated in several auto races under thepseudonymMorizo Kinoshita.[15] At the2009 24 Hours of Nürburgring, he finished 81st overall and third in class in aLexus IS F, and 87th overall and fourth in class with aLexus LF-A.[16][17] At the2014 24 Hours of Nürburgring, he finished 13th overall and first in class with a Lexus LF-A.[18] At the2019 24 Hours of Nürburgring, he finished 40th overall and third in class with aToyota GR Supra GT4.
In 2016, Toyoda approved the project that would result in theGR Yaris; during the development of that car, Toyoda (as Morizo) served as a test driver. Morizo crashed the first test car during a mid-winter test drive at aHokkaido track; after exiting the car on his own, he remarked that he did not "like the feel of it". As Morizo, Toyoda continued to drive development prototypes, and since the car's release, has campaigned the car in races.[19]
In the wake of massive global recalls ballooning to 8.5 million vehicles, Toyoda was invited to testify before theU.S. Congress on 17 February 2010,[20] which he accepted. A week later, he issued a prepared statement to the Congress.[21] He focused on three key issues: Toyota's basic philosophy regarding quality control, the cause of the recalls, and "how we will manage quality control going forward".[22] On 24 February 2010, accompanied by president and COO of Toyota Motor North America, Yoshimi Inaba, Toyoda testified before theHouse of Representatives' Oversight and Government Reform Committee. As the scion of a family known for their contributions to automated manufacturing, Toyoda was personally affected by the quality control crises.[23] In his comments he is quoted as being "deeply sorry" and highlighted the relations between Toyota vehicles in theUnited States and Americans for fifty years.[24]
At a press event held on 14 December 2021, Toyota unveiledmultiple concept cars with battery electric drivetrains, a sign of faith in the future of the technology.[25] In a later interview, he said "“People are finally seeing reality."[26]The New York Times assessed his bet on hybrid vehicles is how the company achieved its 2023 profit of 4.9 trillion yen—the highest in the company's history.[27][28] Also in 2023, Toyoda stepped down from his role as CEO to become chairman.[28]
In November 2025, Toyoda was seen at theFuji Speedway wearing aMake America Great Again hat and a shirt with the pictures ofDonald Trump andJD Vance.[29]
| Sasuke | Heikichi | Asako | Sakichi | Tami | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kazuko | Eiji | Rizaburo | Aiko | Kiichiro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kanshiro | Tetsuro | Shuhei | Tatsuro | Shoichiro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daisuke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chairman ofToyota 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | President and CEO ofToyota 2009–2023 | Succeeded by Koji Sato |
| International | |
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| National | |
