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

Message from Toyota India –

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of TMC Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda.

Shoichiro san was a great supporter of our Asia region, and his legacy and contribution can be felt across all of our entities even till today. Those who came in contact with him were struck by his vision, energy and curiosity.

This is a huge loss to the entire Toyota family, as he represented the passion and spirit of a great Toyota leader.

We wish his family all the peace and comfort as they face this difficult time.

Message from Toyota Europe –

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing today of Toyota Motor Corporation Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda at the age of 97.  Dr Toyoda, who was the son of the company’s founder Kiichiro Toyoda, began his career with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in 1952 having earlier graduated from Nagoya University with a degree in engineering.  He later earned an engineering doctorate, writing his thesis on the subject of fuel injection.

Dr Toyoda served in many posts during his long career in which automotive technology, quality control were primary emphases. He became managing director in 1961 and following promotions to senior managing director in 1967, and executive vice president in 1972, he was named president of Toyota’s sales organisation in 1981. Following the merger of the sales and production organisations in 1982 he became president of the newly integrated TMC, serving later as chairman of the board between 1992 and 1999. Dr Toyoda served on the board for 57 years and assumed the position of honorary chairman in 2009 until his death.

Dr Toyoda is the father of the current president and CEO, Akio Toyoda, his eldest son. The funeral service will be for close family members only. Toyota Motor Corporation will hold a farewell gathering at a later date.

About Dr Toyoda –

Shoichiro Toyoda was born February 27, 1925. He graduated from Nagoya University in September 1947 with a degree in engineering and joined Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in July 1952. He later earned an engineering doctorate, writing his thesis on the subject of fuel injection.

Automotive technology, quality control and factory management have been primary emphases for Dr. Toyoda throughout his career. He became managing director in 1961, and after promotions to senior managing director in 1967 and executive vice president in 1972, he was named president of Toyota’s sales organization in 1981. Upon the merger of the sales and production organizations in 1982, he assumed the presidency of the newly integrated TMC, and later served as chairman of the board from 1992 to 1999. After serving on the board for 57 years, Dr. Toyoda now serves as honorary chairman, a position he has held since June 2009.

Key non-TMC posts
• Chairman, Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute (1974-)
• Director, Institute for International Economic Studies (1983-)
• Senior Representative Director, Genesis Research Institute, Inc. (1996-)
• Honorary Chairman, Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN) (2002-)
• Honorary Chairman, Kaiyo Academy (2016-)
• Honorary Advisor, Automobile Business Association of Japan (2017-)

Awards and citations
• Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Japan, 1972
• Deming Prize, 1980
• Medal with Blue Ribbon, Japan, 1984
• Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Japan, 1984
• Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Japan, 1985
• Order Antonio Jose de Sucre, First Class, Venezuela, 1986
• Order Francisco de Miranda, Second Class, Venezuela, 1988
• Knight Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Crown, Thailand,
1990
• Commander of the Order of Leopold, Belgium, 1991
• Gran Cruz de la Order Nacional al Merit, Colombia, 1991
• Knight Commander of the British Empire, UK, 1995
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Japan, 1995
• Order Francisco de Miranda, First Class, Venezuela, 1995
• Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil, 1996
• Order of Merit, Turkey, 1998
• L’ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur, Commandeur, France, 1998
• Grande Ufficiale, Italy, 1998
• Honorary companion (AC) within the General Division of the Order of
Australia, Australia, 1999
• Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star, Austria, 1999
• (Comendador) of the Medal of Isabel la Catolica, Spain, 2000
• FISITA Medal, International Federation of Automotive Engineering
Societies, 2000
• Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit, Federal Republic of Germany,
2001
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan, 2002
• Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit, Republic of Poland, 2004
• Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the
Direkgunabhom, Thailand, 2004
• L’ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur, Grand-Officier, France, 2005
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Portuguese Republic, 2005
• The Juan Mora Fernandez, Grado de Gran Cruz, Placa de Plata, Costa
Rica, 2005
• Commander of the Equatorial Star of Gabon, 2005
• Induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame, Michigan, U.S.A., 2007
• Cavaliere di Gran Croce decorato di Gran Cordone, Italy, 2007
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, Japan, 2007
• The Order of Lakandula with the Rank of Bayani, Republic of the
Philippines, 2010
• Bintang Jasa Utama, Republic of Indonesia, 2015