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Former Toyota chief executive Hiroshi Okuda dies
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- Hiroshi Okuda, former CEO and chairman of Toyota, who played a pivotal role in the company’s global expansion and development of the hybrid Prius, has died at age 93.
- Okuda led Toyota from 1995 to 2006, overseeing the launch of the Prius in 1997, which became a symbol of fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly automotive technology.
- He was notable for being an outspoken leader outside the founding Toyoda family and emphasized global harmony and innovation in Toyota’s operations, including expanding manufacturing in the U.S. and Europe.
- Okuda advocated for younger management in Japanese corporate culture and stressed the importance of continuous improvement, aligning with Toyota’s “kaizen” philosophy.
- He also held leadership roles in major Japanese business organizations and contributed to economic strategy discussions in Japan; details on his death and funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
