Eiji Toyoda

Eiji Toyoda was a Japanese industrialist who played a pivotal role in the development and success of Toyota Motor Corporation. He was a cousin of the company's founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, and joined the family business in 1936 after graduating from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked closely with his cousin and shared his vision of making quality and affordable cars for the masses. He also developed a strong friendship with Taiichi Ohno, the creator of the Toyota Production System, a set of principles and practices that aimed to eliminate waste, improve efficiency and empower workers. Eiji Toyoda was instrumental in implementing and refining the Toyota Production System, which became a model for lean manufacturing around the world. He also led the company's expansion into the global market, especially the United States, where he introduced the popular Toyota Corolla in 1968. He became the president of Toyota Motor Corporation in 1967 and the chairman in 1982. He oversaw the launch of the luxury brand Lexus in 1989, which challenged the dominance of European and American rivals. He also initiated the joint venture with General Motors in 1984, which established the New United Motor Manufacturing plant in California. He retired as chairman in 1994, but remained as an honorary chairman and advisor until his death. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1994 and received the Order of the Rising Sun in 2002. He died of heart failure at the age of 100 in 2013. He was widely regarded as a visionary and inspirational leader who transformed Toyota into one of the world's largest and most respected automakers.