TMC to farewell honorary chairman Toyoda

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has announced the death of its honorary chairman Shoichiro Toyoda, father of the newly appointed chairman Akio Toyoda.

Toyoda (97) died in the late afternoon of February 14, 2023. He was born in Nagoya City on February 27, 1925 and was the son of TMC founder Kiichiro Toyoda.

Toyoda joined Toyota Motors in 1952 and become the first president of Toyota Motor Corporation in 1982 when the formerly separate production and sales organisations merged into one. 

He became TMC chairman in 1992 and served until his retirement in 1999 when he was bestowed with the title of honorary chairman. 

Under his stewardship TMC not only developed the Lexus brand but also the Toyota Prius which was the world’s first production petrol-electric hybrid vehicle .

Toyoda will be mourned by his closest family members at a private funeral service.

TMC says it plans to hold a farewell gathering for honorary chairman Toyoda at a later date.