トヨタ 奥田碩

Former Toyota Motor Corporation president Seki Okuda, who passed away on August 8, launched the world's first hybrid vehicle (HV) and advocated shareholder-oriented management. He guided the company with his candid approach and created a foothold into a global company in terms of both business and capital. ``Companies won't develop if they stand still.'' In the 1980s, Japanese cars came under the spotlight due to trade friction between Japan and the United States. Japanese car manufacturers voluntarily restricted exports to the United States and began exploring local production. At the time, Mr. Okuda was in charge of the North American Business Preparation Office.