Honorary Toyota Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda Dies At 97

Shoichiro Toyoda, the honorary chairman of Toyota Motor who transformed the Japanese automaker into a leading global brand, died of heart failure on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, the company said. He was 97.

Photo Insert: Toyoda propelled Toyota's overseas production on the back of Japan’s economic growth.

Toyoda, a third-generation scion of the founding family who inherited its stake in the business, is credited with establishing a culture of quality control at the firm, helping it evolve into a world-leading automaker.

He was also responsible for pushing Toyota, which started as a loom manufacturer, to produce vehicles overseas, Kyodo News reported.

Born on Feb. 27, 1925, Toyoda paved the way for the Japanese automaker to grow into one of the most globally recognized brands.

A grandson of Sakichi Toyoda, who founded the Toyota group, and son of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota’s predecessor Toyota Motor Co., Shoichiro Toyoda joined the company as a board member at just 27 years of age. He was named a managing director in 1961 for his endeavors in improving product quality.

He became executive vice president in 1972 and in 1981, and he was named president of Toyota’s sales organization.

Following a merger of production and sales organizations a year later, he took over the helm of the newly integrated Toyota Motor, going on to serve as chairman of the board from 1992 to 1999.

Toyoda propelled overseas production on the back of Japan’s economic growth, with Toyota, headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, setting up a joint venture with General Motors in the United States in 1984, Reuters also reported.

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