Japanese carmaker Toyota has made changes in its top managerial structure by announcing Koji Sato as the new CEO.
Sato has an engineering and diesel engine background and becomes the new CEO of Japan’s top carmaker Toyota, he will be tasked with navigating the company’s shift to clean energy.
In a statement from the automaker, now CEO of Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus, Sato will succeed Akio Toyoda as CEO of Toyota on April 1.
Under Toyoda, the carmaker has followed a go-slow approach to electric vehicles, arguing the hybrid technology it pioneered with the Prius will remain important along with investments in hydrogen.
One of the main reasons Sato was elected as a successor was his love of creating cars, while also speaking on electric vehicles.
“It won’t be an immediate substitution for electric vehicles, but it’s good for people to know there are other options available when the increase of EVs eventually plateaus,” Sato said of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the report.
“I am immensely humbled to be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of carrying forward the passion of President Toyoda. When I received the unofficial notice that I would be appointed president.
“President Toyoda told me: “Do things your way.” My thoughts are now about how to fulfill my role my way in a new management team.
“When talking about doing things “my way”, that means I am an engineer and have long been involved in car-making.”
BusinessTech Africa is informed that the incoming CEO, Sato, studied diesel engine combustion at university and joined Toyota in hopes of “contributing to society by creating the future of diesel engines”, according to an interview on the website of Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsport brand.
Sato began his career at Toyota in 1992, before rising through the ranks to become chief engineer of Lexus International in 2016, according to his profile on the Toyota website.
