Newly installed President of Toyota Motor Corporation, Akio Toyoda, outlined his plans for recovery in his first major speech yesterday. Although he gave no specific details, his tried to set the overall tone for the company's recovery.
He emphasized two main points. First, he wants to create a product-focused management. "Rather than asking, 'How many cars will we sell?' or, 'How much money will we make by selling these cars?' we need to ask ourselves, 'What kind of cars will make people happy?' as well as, 'What pricing will attract them in each region?' Then we must make those cars," Toyoda said.
His second area of emphasis was regional expertise. He intends to give his Vice Presidents more control over their individual regions. "Through these processes, I would like to make Toyota's product development and product lineup more region-focused. We will change our policy from achieving 'a full lineup everywhere' to 'a lineup necessary to meet the needs of each region'. We will also launch new vehicles that anticipate consumer needs and are exciting to drive," Toyoda said.
None of it says too much about Toyoda other than the fact that he realizes that product is king. Not a bad trait in a new president though.
estreka says:
09:13 AM, 06/26/09
Exciting to drive? Toyota? That hasn't been the case since 1998.
fuhteng says:
09:45 AM, 06/26/09
Do you count the IS-F?
hondacura4 says:
09:48 AM, 06/26/09
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a9yJCGNHdGWs
This article is even more telling and detailed as Toyoda absolutely reams Wantanabe for changing Toyota of America's focus to fast paced growth and #1 sales instead of going by the Toyota philosophy. The article is very long but its worth reading.
estreka says:
10:15 AM, 06/26/09
Great article, HA4.
Fuh, I know it's shallow, but I just can't respect a car with fake exhaust pipes.
powell_jr says:
12:29 PM, 06/26/09
The above picture cracks me up.
igeekone says:
04:26 PM, 06/26/09
It's about time they go back to their roots instead of going in the same direction the big three went and lost big.
greenpony says:
07:55 AM, 06/27/09
I think all automakers should hire CEO's with names that sound similar to their respective companies.
billt9 says:
07:10 PM, 06/27/09
greenpony, Toyoda is the founding family. They just changed the "d" to a "t" in the corporate name because "toyota" is luckier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Toyota
Go Mighty Toyota Rangers Go!
Megazord, Transform!!!!