Shoichiro Toyoda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shoichiro Toyoda
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| 豊田 章一郞 | |
Toyoda in 2007
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| Born | February 27, 1925 Nagoya, Empire of Japan
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| Died | February 14, 2023 (aged 97) |
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| Title | Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation (1994–1999) |
| Children | Akio |
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Shoichiro Toyoda (Japanese: 豊田 章一郞, Hepburn: Toyoda Shōichirō, February 27, 1925 – February 14, 2023) was a very important Japanese business leader. He was the chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation from 1992 to 1999. He also led a powerful business group called the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) from 1994 to 1998.
Under Shoichiro Toyoda's leadership, Toyota started building cars in other countries. He also helped create the fancy Lexus car brand. He came from a family of innovators. His grandfather, Sakichi Toyoda, founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. His father, Kiichiro Toyoda, started Toyota Motors.
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Early Life and School
Shoichiro Toyoda was born in Nagoya, Japan, on February 27, 1925. He was the oldest son of Kiichiro Toyoda and Hatako Toyoda. His grandfather was Sakichi Toyoda, who started a company that made weaving machines.
In 1947, Shoichiro finished college at Nagoya University. He earned a degree in engineering. He did not have to join the army during World War II. This was because engineers were needed for the war effort. After college, he worked at a fish processing plant and a house building company.
Later, in 1955, he earned a PhD in engineering from Tohoku University. His special project was about how fuel is injected into engines.
Building Toyota's Future
In 1952, Shoichiro Toyoda joined Toyota Motor. He joined after his father passed away suddenly. Before this, he hadn't planned to work for the company. But his father's cousin, Eiji Toyoda, asked him to join. His first job was in the inspection department.
In 1957, Toyoda approved sending the Toyopet Crown car to the United States. He even drove it himself on a road trip. However, the car's engine wasn't strong enough for US highways. It didn't sell well and cost the company a lot of money. This experience taught Toyoda a big lesson. He later said he became "determined to develop a high-quality passenger car that would perform well anywhere in the world."
Focusing on Quality
Shoichiro Toyoda became a managing director in 1961. This was the same year Toyota started using Total Quality Control (TQC). He strongly supported TQC within Toyota Motor. He worked with Eiji Toyoda, who was in charge of quality.
In 1965, Toyota Motor won an award called the Deming Prize. They won it for doing a great job with Total Quality Management (TQM). This showed how much they cared about making things perfectly.
In 1967, Shoichiro Toyoda became a senior managing director. By 1972, he was an executive vice president. During this time, Toyota launched the Toyota Corolla in 1966. It came to the US in 1968. The Corolla became the world's best-selling car in 1974. It is still one of the best-selling cars ever.
Joining Forces: Toyota Motor Corporation
In 1981, Toyoda moved to lead Toyota Motor Sales. Then, in 1982, two big Toyota companies joined together. They formed the new Toyota Motor Corporation. Shoichiro Toyoda became the president of this new, bigger company. He served as chairman from 1992 to 1999. After that, he became honorary chairman in 1999.
After the merger, Shoichiro Toyoda worked hard to bring the two companies' cultures together. He talked about "The Three Cs": Creativity, Challenge, and Courage. Before, the companies had very different ways of working. One focused on "efficiency," and the other was more "free and open."
In 1984, a group studied how to improve Toyota. They found that the company had "big company disease." This meant that younger employees felt it was hard to share new ideas. Toyoda pushed the company to be more flexible. He wanted to encourage new ideas. In 1988, many of these ideas were put into action.
Starting in 1990, Toyoda also focused on how Toyota could help society. In 1992, the company updated its main rules and created the Toyota Global Earth Charter. This showed their commitment to the environment. Before stepping down as president in 1992, Toyoda also helped create the Toyota Development Center System. This system organized the company into groups to encourage new ideas and creativity.
Growing Toyota Around the World
Under Toyoda's leadership, Toyota started building cars in many countries. They began in North America. In 1983, Toyoda talked with General Motors about working together. They created a joint company called NUMMI in California. This factory started making the Toyota Corolla and the Chevrolet Nova in 1984.
Two years later, Toyota opened its first factory that it fully owned in Kentucky. They started making the Toyota Camry there in 1988. When the factory opened, Toyoda said Toyota would "work hard to become a good citizen of Kentucky and America." Toyota then opened more factories in Canada and the United Kingdom. By the time Toyoda became chairman in 1992, Toyota had factories in 22 countries!
New Car Designs
Toyota was known for making affordable, small cars. But in 1989, Toyoda wanted to make luxury cars too. So, the company launched the Lexus brand in the US. Lexus cars were designed to compete with fancy German cars. In 1991, Toyota also introduced the first wide-body Camry. This was an example of cars made specially for markets outside Japan.
Even after he wasn't running the company day-to-day, Toyoda loved car design. He enjoyed test-driving cars even when he was older. Toyoda was against Toyota joining Formula One car races. He disagreed with a later company president, Hiroshi Okuda, who still entered Toyota into F1 in 1999.
Leading Japanese Business
From 1994 to 1998, Toyoda was the chairman of Keidanren. This is a very important group for Japanese businesses. He helped guide Japan through tough trade talks with the US. When his younger brother, Tatsuro Toyoda, couldn't join talks with the US Ambassador, Shoichiro stepped in. He helped negotiate for Japan to buy more American car parts. This helped reduce the trade difference between the US and Japan. Toyoda also pushed the government to lower business taxes and make rules simpler.
Personal Life and Passing
Shoichiro Toyoda remained an honorary chairman of Toyota until he passed away. He died on February 14, 2023, at 97 years old. He passed away from sudden heart failure. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son Akio Toyoda. Akio Toyoda was the president of Toyota Motor Corporation for 14 years.
Awards and Honors
Shoichiro Toyoda received many awards for his work and leadership.
- 1980: Deming Prize, Japan (for quality control)
- 1993: International Fellow Royal Academy of Engineering
- 2007: Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, USA
Honors from Japan
- November 1984: Medal of Honor (Blue Ribbon)
- April 1995: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
- April 2002: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun
- November 2007: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Honors from Other Countries
Shoichiro Toyoda also received many important awards from countries all over the world, recognizing his global impact. These included honors from Venezuela, Thailand, Belgium, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Turkey, Australia, Austria, Spain, Germany, Poland, France, Portugal, Costa Rica, Gabon, Italy, and the Philippines.
