Toyota's First Non-Toyoda President, Hiroshi Okuda, Dies at 93

Shoichiro Toyoda, former president of Toyota Motor Corporation and former chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), passed away on August 8 local time at the age of 93. Toyoda joined Toyota Motor Sales Co. in 1955 and became Toyota’s first president not from the founding Toyoda family in 1995. During his tenure as president, he spearheaded global production expansion and championed the launch of vehicles such as the Prius. He served as chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation from 1999 to 2006. In 2002, he became the inaugural chairman of the newly merged Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). After stepping down from Toyota’s board, Toyoda served as president of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).