Shoichiro Toyoda, the honorary chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, passed away on 14th February at the age of 97.

Shoichiro Toyoda was the son of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda, and father of the company’s current president and CEO, Akio Toyoda. Born in Nagoya in 1925, He graduated from Nagoya University with a degree in engineering and joined the company in 1952. During his years at Toyota, he served various roles with the main focus being automotive technology and quality control.

He became managing director in 1961 and later senior managing director in 1967. In 1972 he was named executive vice president and stepped up as president of Toyota’s sales organisation in 1981. When the sales and production divisions merged into Toyota Motor Corporation in 1982, he became president of the new entity. During his tenure as chairman from 1992 to 1999, Toyoda oversaw a period of significant growth and expansion for Toyota, and was instrumental in the company’s efforts to increase its global presence and establish new markets, most notably in the United States. He was on the board of the company for 57 years and switched to the role of honorary chairman in 2009.

With a doctorate degree in engineering and a thesis on the subject of fuel injection, Toyoda was an advocate for environmental sustainability and was instrumental in the development of the Prius hybrid vehicle. As one of the most influential leaders in the history of this massive company, Toyoda will surely be remembered and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations in the automotive industry.