Eiji Toyoda, Dies at 100

Eiji Toyoda, the longest serving president in the history of Toyota and the founder of Lexus, died on September 17th 2013 at age 100. His career lasted for 57 years.

In 1994. he stepped down, but by that period company already started assembling Corollas in the U. S. and had started with the Lexus luxury brand, also new project was on the way to be developed. One of the world’s most efficient and successful gas-electric vehicle, the Prius.

“He played an important role in leading Toyota’s expansion into North America, and in developing the car maker into a global company,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, said at a press conference in Tokyo. “He was someone who was indispensable to the nation’s entire industry.“

Eiji Toyoda was a cousin of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of the company. There were six presidents coming from the family.

He had been working 69 years for the company situated in central Japan’s Toyota City. They were assembling its cars from the parts made by GM. Toyoda considered that the best way is to learn from big ones, like GM and Ford about mass production of automobiles.

He became a president of Toyota Motor. Co. in 1967. and served for 15 years. Toyota Motor and Toyota Motor Sales Co. merged and formed Toyota Motor Corporation. Eiji Toyoda became a chairman of that merged company. After he retired he was made honorary chairman of the company, and also honorary adviser.

During his leadership they opened 10 new car factories,began exporting to dozen of countries. The reputation was built. By that time the Corolla was the best selling car.

Nevertheless his greatest achievement was establishing company overseas, and venture in the U. S. started in 1983. The year later he passed the presidency to his cousin, Shoichiro.

They started in partnership with GM in 1984, and production started in Fremont, California. Toyota’s principles showed that they can be applied in different cultures, Kentucky, Canada, England, France.

In 1994. Toyoda was inducted in Automotive Hall of fame in the U.S. “As a member of the automotive industry, this is indeed a great moment for me“, he said in a statement upon his introduction. “Ever since Toyota’s establishment in 1937. I have been involved in this wonderful business, and as long as my engine keeps running, I intend to give back as much as I can for the industry’s further development.”

Eiji Toyoda was born on Sept. 12, 1913. near Nagoya and was the second son of Heikichi and Nao. He spent his childhood in Nagoya inside her father’s mill. From the early ages he was thought in machines and business. In 1936 he graduated in mechanical engineering and joined Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Ltd. Working for his uncle Sakichi Toyoda. He had three sons and a daughter with his wife Kazuko.