Toyota's Leader, Chairman Toyoda, Outlines His Vision for the Future of the Company
In a private session held at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, Akio Toyoda, Chairman of the Toyota Group, addressed senior managers and genba leaders from 17 Group companies. During this gathering, he spoke about the company's past leaders, the core duty of a carmaker, and the attitudes needed for Toyota's future.
The meeting, which took place at Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, the Group's spiritual core, was a significant event that marked a turning point in the Toyota Group's history. This was not the first time such a gathering took place, as all those in attendance at the first postwar board meeting had sustained the company since its founding.
The Toyota Group was established in 1895 with the creation of Toyoda Shoten. Sakichi Toyoda, the company's founder, invented the Toyoda wooden hand loom in 1890 to ease his mother's burden. The company then expanded with the establishment of Toyoda Boshoku and Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, extending the company vertically.
However, it was Kiichiro Toyoda who led the company into a new era. Beginning his active involvement in the business in the 1930s, Kiichiro aimed to revamp Japan's industrial base by producing automobiles domestically. This shift in business areas from the textile industry to automobiles and machinery manufacturing, primarily for aircraft production after the end of the war, was a bold move that set the stage for the Toyota Group's future success.
As alliances were formed, the Toyota Group's lineage extended horizontally. Many companies in the parts, steel, rubber, and electronics industries started following Toyota's lead. Kiichiro Toyoda's goal was to create happiness for the people of Japan and a future that allowed the next generation to dream.
The first postwar board meeting of the Toyota Group's holding company, Toyoda Sangyo, was held on August 27, 1945. While the specific focus of this meeting is not clearly documented, in the context of Japan's post-war period, discussions at such meetings likely centered around reconstruction efforts, financial recovery strategies, and compliance with occupation policies. The Allied occupation, led by the United States, played a significant role in reshaping Japan's economy and corporate structures during this time.
Despite the challenges faced after the war, demand for machinery manufacturing had instantly dried up. The Group urgently needed to figure out how to operate. This meeting was significant in determining the direction of the entire Toyota Group.
On January 30, Chairman Akio Toyoda declared his commitment to leading the Toyota Group before the assembled press, reaffirming the company's dedication to its core duty as a carmaker and its vision for the future. Kiichiro Toyoda's legacy continues to inspire the company, as it strives to create a future that allows dreams to come true.
- Akio Toyoda, addressing senior managers and genba leaders from 17 Group companies at the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, emphasized the need for strong financial management and leadership as they navigate the future, referencing Kiichiro Toyoda's bold move into automobiles and machinery manufacturing.
- As they gather to discuss the company's future, Chairman Akio Toyoda recalled the core duty of a carmaker, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the business vision established by Kiichiro Toyoda, who aimed to create happiness for the people of Japan and pave the way for the next generation to dream.
