Passing of TMC Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda

• Full name: Shoichiro Toyoda
• Time and date of death: 4:48 P.M., February 14, 2023
• Cause of death: Heart failure
• Age at death: 97
• Date of birth: February 27, 1925
• Place of birth: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
• Bereaved: Akio Toyoda (Relation: Eldest son)
• Funeral services: For close family only

TMC plans to hold a farewell gathering for Honorary Chairman Toyoda at a later date.

Inducted Into Automotive Hall Of Fame:

Shoichiro Toyoda shaped Toyota Motor Co. into a global leader in product quality and engineering. Toyoda was born in 1925 in Nagoya, Japan. He graduated from Nagoya University in 1947 with a degree in engineering and joined Toyota Motor Co. in 1952.  

Toyoda earned the respect of his fellow employees by working alongside them in the engineering labs and on the factory floor. He quickly realized the positive correlation between superior assembly methods and product quality, and began training his workers using these principals to demonstrate their impact on customer satisfaction. Toyoda was named a managing director of the company in 1961 as a result of his efforts to improve product quality. He was later promoted to senior managing director and made executive vice president in 1972. Toyoda ultimately led the merger between Toyota Motor Co.’s manufacturing and sales organizations in 1982, and was named the company’s first president. 

By the 1980s, Toyota Motor Co. had become a respected and recognized automotive brand around the world. However, it was still primarily an export-based company. Toyoda knew that in order to be a truly global organization, the company needed to manufacture its products in local markets, especially in North America. Toyoda opened discussions with General Motors in 1983 to form a joint manufacturing venture. The new company, New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), built its first automobile in 1984 in Freemont, CA. As of 2021, Toyota operates numerous production facilities across North America as well as 50 other countries. Shoichiro Toyoda also brought a sense of environmental responsibility to Toyota, believing “the environment cannot be ignored, but must be dealt with proactively.” 

Toyoda served as chairman of Toyota Motor Co. from 1992 – 1999 as well as chairman of the Business Federation from 1994 – 1998. He was made an honorary chairman of Toyota Motor Co. in 1999. Shoichiro Toyoda helped cement Toyota’s reputation as one of the most recognized and celebrated auto manufacturers in the world. 

Shoichiro Toyoda was born in Nagoya [1], Japan in 1925. He was the eldest son in a traditional Japanese family firm [1], and eventually went on to become the Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation [2]. He was largely responsible for transforming the company from a small automaker into a global leader in product quality and engineering [3]. He was also instrumental in the development of the Toyota Production System, which revolutionized the automotive industry with its focus on quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. During his tenure as chairman, Toyota expanded into many new markets and developed a wide range of products, including the Prius hybrid car. After his retirement in 1992, Toyoda was succeeded as the president of Toyota by his cousin Eiji Toyoda. In 2006, Toyoda was awarded the Order of Culture by the Japanese government in recognition of his contributions to the automotive industry.

1. Shoichiro Toyoda 1925 Biography - Toyotas crown prince ... https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/S-Z/Toyoda-Shoichiro-1925.html

2. Shoichiro Toyoda (1): Founding principles - Nikkei Asia https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/My-Personal-History/Shoichiro-Toyoda/Shoichiro-Toyoda-1-Founding-principles

3. Shoichiro Toyoda | Automotive Hall of Fame https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/shoichiro-toyoda/