TMC Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda Passes at 97

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on TMC Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda Passes at 97

Shoichiro Toyoda – 1925-2023.

“With great sadness Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced the passing of TMC Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda this morning in Nagoya. Shoichiro Toyoda died at 4:48 pm on 14 February 2023 of heart failure. He is survived by Akio Toyoda his eldest son. TMC plans to hold a farewell gathering for Honorary Chairman Toyoda at a later date.

Shoichiro Toyoda was born 27 February 1925 in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. 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 served as honorary chairman since June 2009.

AutoInformed honors Shoichiro Toyoda, and humbly prays for his descendants.

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About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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