Is Toyota going to build boring cars again? ‘No more boring cars’ Toyota chief Akio Toyoda quits
As of April 1, and that’s no joke
Effective April 1, 2023, Akio Toyoda will step down as President, Member of the Board of Directors (Representative Director), Operating Officer and as Chief Executive Officer. Toyota is not leaving Toyoda. He will be the new Chairman of the Board of Directors (Representative Director) effective April 1 – no joke.
Successor Akio Toyoda
So who will fill Akio Toyoda’s positions? That will be two people. Takeshi Uchiyamada becomes Member of the Board of Directors (Representative Director) and Koji Sato moves forward as Operating Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer. One piece of luck: Koji Sato, like Akio Toyoda, is a huge car enthusiast. So that’s good news for car fans.
About Koji Sato
Koji Sato was born on Oct. 19, 1969. He graduated from Waseda University in March 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and joined Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in April of the same year. In January 2016, Sato-san was appointed chief engineer of Lexus International Co. In April 2017, he was promoted to executive general manager and placed in charge of Lexus International Co. In January 2019, he became executive vice president of Lexus International Co.
A lot of promotions
In January 2020, he was promoted to operational officer and became president of Lexus International Co. This was followed by the appointment as president of GAZOO Racing Company in September 2020. Finally, in January 2021, he was promoted to operating officer and chief branding officer. With Toyoda stepping down, Koji Sato makes another great move.
No more boring cars?
But eh Sato, do keep Toyoda’s motto alive huh? “No more boring cars,” not now and not in the future. Thanks in advance! But I’m sure that will work out. To Toyoda at least the following message: Dōmo arigatō. Because thanks to him, cars like the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR86 and the GR Supra (also with manual transmission) were realized. With help from Koji Sato, by the way, so somewhere we have a feeling it will be okay.