Automotive Hall of Fame Selects Toyota Motor Corporation's Fujio Cho 2001 Automotive Industry Leader of the Year

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 4 -- The President of Toyota Motor Corporation, Fujio Cho, has been named the Automotive Hall of Fame's Industry Leader of the Year for 2001.

Cho will be honored on January 27, 2002 at the Automotive Hall of Fame and Popular Mechanics Annual Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, during the National Automobile Dealer Association's Annual Convention.

``The honor is bestowed each year to the individual, who best exemplifies the image, foresight, leadership, integrity and purpose contributing most to the success of the motor vehicle industry,'' says Jeffrey K. Leestma, Automotive Hall of Fame President.

A graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, Cho joined Toyota upon earning his degree in 1960. After spending his early career in general affairs, he became a Manager in the production control division in 1974, and 10 years later, Cho became Department General Manager of the logistic management division, while co-serving as a Project General Manager in the production control division.

In 1987, Cho was dispatched to Kentucky as Executive Vice President at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, U.S.A., Inc. (TMMK), Toyota's largest plant outside of Japan. He was named a Toyota Director in 1988, and later that year he became President of TMMK. While in Kentucky, Cho gained valuable insight to Toyota's global manufacturing infrastructure, which would serve him well in his future positions. He returned to Japan in 1994, and in 1998, Cho became Executive Vice President, where he oversaw Toyota's corporate planning, information systems and industrial equipment. Cho assumed the position of President in 1999. As the company's head, he not only shapes corporate policy for Toyota but is a highly regarded spokesman for the automobile industry and for manufacturing in general.

Last year's Automotive Industry Leader of the Year was Kenneth L. Way, Chairman of Lear Corporation. Past honorees include Lee A. Iacocca (Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation), Roger Penske (Penske Corporation), Heinz Prechter (ASC, Inc.), Roger B. Smith (General Motors Corporation) and Alex Trotman (Ford Motor Company).

The Automotive Hall of Fame, located in Dearborn, Michigan, is the only industry-wide means to honor the men and women of the global motor vehicle and related industries. It is dedicated to preserving the history of mobility by celebrating the creativity, toil and genius of the individual.

SOURCE: Automotive Hall of Fame