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Hiroshi Okuda, former Toyota chief credited for leading the Japanese automaker’s global climb, dies
Okuda led Toyota’s overseas expansion and helped more than double foreign sales in a decade while championing the Prius hybrid, Reuters reported.
- Former Toyota Motor Corp Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, who led the automaker's global expansion, died at 93, the company said Wednesday.
- In 1996, Okuda spearheaded a strategy dubbed "Vision 2005" to slash engineering costs and reduce export reliance in favor of local production in key markets.
- Within a decade, overseas sales more than doubled, helping global sales soar 67%; Okuda also championed the gas-electric Prius in 1997, emphasizing "kaizen," Toyota's principle of constant improvement.
- Assuming the presidency as Toyota's first leader outside the Toyoda family in nearly three decades, Okuda called himself "cocky" and frequently challenged the founding family's power.
- Okuda was vocal about concerns over Toyota's inevitable dethroning of the American so-called "Big Three"—General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler—as growth fueled Japan-bashing sentiments starting in the 1980s.
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Former Toyota, Keidanren Chief Hiroshi Okuda dies at 93
NAGOYA (Jiji Press) -- Hiroshi Okuda, who served as president and chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. and chairman of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, died at 93, it was learned Wednesday.Born in the city of Tsu, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, Okuda graduated from Hitotsubashi University's Faculty of Commerce and Management and joined Toyota Motor Sales Co. in 1955. The company later merged with Toyota Motor Co. to form today's Toyota Mot…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources68
Leaning Left13Leaning Right15Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 25%
C 46%
R 29%
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