Kiichiro's Communication | "A Communication from Morizo" (switched sender and receiver names)

Toyota CEO Pays Tribute to Founder Kiichiro Toyoda in Detroit

Toyota Motor Corporation's President, Akio Toyoda, also known as Morizo, recently visited Detroit, the heart of the automotive industry. His primary purpose was to unveil the new Supra at the North American International Auto Show. However, his visit was not just about business. Morizo also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, who was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2018.

Morizo expressed his gratitude for the commendation Kiichiro received from the U.S., particularly during a time of transformation. He feels a close connection to Kiichiro Toyoda, often referring to him as "Grandpa" or "Kiichiro." Morizo shared that visiting Detroit, home of the automotive industry, was a significant moment for him, as it reminded him of Kiichiro's dreams and the challenges he faced in establishing Toyota in the U.S.

Kiichiro Toyoda founded Toyota Motor Corporation in 1937, with a vision to "create domestic cars and establish an automobile industry in Japan." His inspiration came from the sight of many cars in U.S. cities. However, Kiichiro and his colleagues started making cars during a time of political instability and labor disputes, with no money or goods. Despite these challenges, Kiichiro remained steadfast in his mission.

Morizo admires Kiichiro's resilience and believes that his grandfather's spirit is cheering him on during Toyota's current transformation. He compares Toyota's journey from an automatic loom company to a car company to working towards being ever better, even without the prospect of immediate success. Morizo believes that this spirit of continuous improvement is essential for Toyota's future success.

In a statement posted on Toyota's intranet on July 10, 2018, Morizo shared that he visited Kiichiro's tomb when he turned 57, asking to fulfill Kiichiro's dreams. He thanked Kiichiro for helping him realize what is truly important and for encouraging him to fight for the future, instead of being too consumed with previous successes.

Morizo also took the opportunity to visit the Automotive Hall of Fame while in Detroit. He felt a sense of pride seeing Kiichiro's name among the greats of the automotive industry. Kiichiro's induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame during a once-in-a-century period of transformation feels like a testament to his enduring impact on the global automobile industry.

As Toyota moves forward, Morizo encourages everyone to remember Kiichiro's spirit and to continue fighting for the future, even in the face of challenges. He believes that by staying focused on continuous improvement and innovation, Toyota can continue to make a positive impact on the world.

Kiichiro's Communication | "A Communication from Morizo" (switched sender and receiver names)