The questions and answer session at a recent conference dug deeper into two ideas expressed by the new management team: "carbon neutrality" and "expanding the value of mobility."
The firm resolve at the root of revolution.
This press conference was filled with big announcements and equally filled with questions. In the end, though, was the very simple one we introduced at the start of this article. President Sato, his expression firm, answered as below.
--You have announced a lot of things today, but let me just ask: what's the one thing you most want to convey?
President Sato
What I want to express most is our powerful resolve to go and change the future of cars.
We have taken on various initiatives as part of this transformation into a mobility company.
One thing that we've come to realize as we did so is that we truly are carmakers. Cars stand at our origin as a company.
We love cars, and as we preserve their natural appeal, we will work to raise their added value, and create a value that is integrated into society.
That is not something that someone will do for us, and there is no simple right answer right now. It’s something we'll have to find for ourselves as we sweat, search, and try.
We can change the future with resolve. I am certain that by believing that, we can build an automobile industry and mobility society, as we run this company with the shared strength of Toyota's 370,000 employees around the world.
From there, the talk became a little more personal, and questions turned to the personal lives of the two vice presidents sitting beside President Sato. The tension in the room eased as each discussed his own passions.
--You announced that this new system will be team management. What kinds of car lovers are the executive officers?
Vice President Nakajima
I love automotive development. I have lots of schematics hung up in my room.
If we change this part, couldn't we make a car unlike anything we've seen before? For this BEV, if we change the battery positioning, how would that impact functionality?
I love thinking about things like that, and I want young people to learn to love carmaking, too.
I want to share that passion through cars and deliver it to our customers.
Vice President Miyazaki
Delivering cars makes customers happy. There are lots of car lovers like that around me, and I'm one myself.
If this team led by new President Sato and Vice President Nakajima keep making good products, we'll make sure to deliver their value to make customers happy.
The local CEOs in every region will all keep that cycle going together. I think that's the kind of car-loving team we've built.
After Vice President Miyazaki finished his response, President Sato took the microphone once more. This time, his face was more relaxed as he spoke.
President Sato
I think the question is a bit more personal, really, "What kind of car do you like?"
The other day we had an entrance ceremony. After thinking about how to welcome new members, we decided to display the cars we actually drive.
Akio Toyoda did, too, displaying his favorite cars as chairman, as Morizo, and as a master driver, demonstrating all his many facets.
I think there was a time 10 or 20 years ago when it would have been a bunch of Crowns lined up, but this time there was not a single overlap. There were all kinds of cars, from trucks to sports cars.
Seeing that drove home that we really have become "a full lineup carmaker," and that we express the diversifying needs of our customers in our own favorite cars.
A society where everyone can love cars in their own way. I think that kind of diversity is exactly what gives birth to innovation.
I think the diversity and variety of this team and their love of cars express Toyota's flexibility and innovation-friendly environment.
