Toyota announced that Akio Toyoda, who has been CEO for many years, will leave his post towards the end of the year. Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota’s founder, had been running the company since 2009. He is especially known for bringing the automotive giant back to the top during the 2008 financial crisis.
Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda will step down this year
The 66-year-old Toyoda will be replaced by 53-year-old Koji Sato, who is currently in charge of the Lexus brand. Sato’s appointment comes at a time when Toyota is seeking to chart a new course in a changing automotive industry.
Toyoda’s interest in driving and motorsport has been recognised throughout his leadership. This has also encouraged Toyota to produce performance-orientated vehicles. However, he was criticised for taking a more cautious approach to the transition to electric vehicles. He also said it should focus on alternative technologies such as hydrogen engines and fuel cells before making major investments in electric vehicles.
GTA 5 Enhanced version disappointed players. Rockstar said it was aware of the problems. Here are the details.
On the other hand, it was stated that Sato wants to draw a different direction for Toyota. Under Sato’s leadership, Lexus developed its first all-electric vehicle, the BZ4X, based on Toyota’s electric vehicle platform. This shows that the new CEO will want to accelerate Toyota’s transition to electric vehicles.
‘I believe I have built a solid foundation to pass the baton over the last 13 years, and I am confident that Koji Sato has the vision and leadership to take Toyota to new heights,’ Toyoda said in a statement.
So what do you think about this issue? Don’t forget to share your opinions with us in the comments section!
