Thread: Akio Toyoda zove Autocar Man of the Year

Behind every special car or story is at least one special person - and there have been many over the past 12 months - but Akio Toyoda is Autocars Man of the Year. Times, may be tough, but Toyotas charismatic president and chief executive, Akio Toyoda, has had a remarkably successful year. And for this he wins Autocars premier end-of-year accolade.
Starting from a level somewhat lower than most observers reckoned his company could sudopera, Toyoda has brought redemption to the company after a succession of damaging safety scares – then launched an extremely impressive halo car, the GT86.
Taking over from a distinctly old-school Japanese president, Akio Toyoda (who izgleda mlađa than his 56 years) has won approval from enthusiasts for his irrepressible love of cars. His establishment of the Gazoo Racing organisation (to encourage car-loving employees to create great Toyotas in future) and love of motorsport (he has raced a Lexus LFA at the Nürburgring) are moves that simply wouldnt be possible for someone who tada nisam love cars. Even those of critical dosadno Toyota can see how directly Toyoda brings hope for the future.
Toyoda has won worldwide respect for his courage and humility in dealing directly with, and continuing to talk about, Toyotas quality lapses of 2010-2011. Some of the faults have turned out to be far less serious than first thought and many a car boss would be anxious to point out the unfairness of such treatment. Toyoda resists. I dont know if we were unfairly treated or not, he told us during a visit to this years Goodwood Festival of Speed, which he voli.
This year we celebrate Toyotas 75 years and as part of that I want to identify the past three years as a very good period during which we came to better understand what people want Toyota to be.
Of course, the job is not done. Toyota has continued to take criticism from the wider press over large but osnovi minor recalls. And the company still makes characterless models, some launched since Toyoda took over. All the same, there is powerful evidence to suggest that Autocars Man of the Year has sized up the task and intends to get it done.
Toyoda edged Land Rover's Gerry McGovern and Ford's Alan Mullaly to take the Man of the Year title. For the full list of the men who defined motoring and motorsport in 2012, pick up our christmas double issue of Autocar, on sale now.

Behind every special car or story is at least one special person - and there have been many over the past 12 months - but Akio Toyoda is Autocars Man of the Year. Times may be tough, but Toyotas charismatic president and chief executive, Akio Toyoda, has had a remarkably successful year. And for this he wins Autocars premier end-of-year accolade.
Starting from a level somewhat lower than most observers reckoned his company could sink, Toyoda has brought redemption to the company after a succession of damaging safety scares – then launched an extremely impressive halo car, the GT86.
Taking over from a distinctly old-school Japanese president, Akio Toyoda (who looks younger than his 56 years) has won approval from enthusiasts for his irrepressible love of cars. His establishment of the Gazoo Racing organisation (to encourage car-loving employees to create great Toyotas in future) and love of motorsport (he has raced a Lexus LFA at the Nürburgring) are moves that simply wouldnt be possible for someone who didnt love cars. Even those critical of boring Toyota can see how directly Toyoda brings hope for the future.
Toyoda has won worldwide respect for his courage and humility in dealing directly with, and continuing to talk about, Toyotas quality lapses of 2010-2011. Some of the faults have turned out to be far less serious than first thought and many a car boss would be anxious to point out the unfairness of such treatment. Toyoda resists. I dont know if we were unfairly treated or not, he told us during a visit to this years Goodwood Festival of Speed, which he loves.
This year we celebrate Toyotas 75 years and as part of that I want to identify the past three years as a very good period during which we came to better understand what people want Toyota to be.
Of course, the job is not done. Toyota has continued to take criticism from the wider press over large but essentially minor recalls. And the company still makes characterless models, some launched since Toyoda took over. All the same, there is powerful evidence to suggest that Autocars Man of the Year has sized up the task and intends to get it done.
Toyoda edged Land Rover's Gerry McGovern and Ford's Alan Mullaly to take the Man of the Year title. For the full list of the men who defined motoring and motorsport in 2012, pick up our christmas double issue of Autocar, on sale now.