Toyota’s president to be replaced
January 11, 2009 by Karl Peskett
The Nikkei daily, Japan’s most read business paper, is reporting that Toyota’s current president, Katsuaki Watanabe, will be replaced by the carmaker’s founder’s grandson, Akio Toyoda.
It’s been 14 years since any family of the founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, have run the Japanese auto-giant. Speculation is that the shift is a result of the first operating loss in 70 years by Toyota.
Toyoda has been waiting in the wings for a while now, and even though he’s been apparently readied for the top job, many are looking forward to the more laid-back attitude Toyoda has become reknown for.
Some reports say the replacement will happen as early as April, whereas others are saying June. Watanabe will be shifted down the rankings to vice-chairman.
Print it: 
Wonder if this has anything to do with the first operating loss reported?
DBSG, it’s no wonder that these comments all get misconstrued.
If you took time to actually read the article and not just the headline, you’d realise that’s what it’s about.
Just read things before commenting, peoples!!!
Oh what a feeling!… Not such a good time to be taking over one of the worlds largest manufacturers. Things are crook in the auto industry world wide and they don’t look like getting any better any time soon. Let hope the new chairman will be given the latitude and the time to make the changes needed to turn his company around. What no one need right now is another major car maker shrinking back into their own markets because of financial constraints. Look at what GM has done to Holden with the news that they wont be taking the Holden ute and rebadging it for the US market. Holden says it ok but i’m sure they are hurting.
Let’s hope it’s not a symbolic ‘knee jerk’. Toyota’s management hasn’t stuffed-up here, unless they were supposed to somehow anticipate the fallout from the idiotic lending practices that have been going on in the US over the last decade. This is what has plunged the world into such a mess, not anything poor old Watanabe has done.
I agree current world economic problems out of the scope of Wanaobes tenure.
With more family involvement they might bring back the Corona and Crown.LOL.
That’s the unfortunate thing in Business – no one seems to remember the successes you had whilst you were in charge they only focus on the c–k ups that occured.. and use you as the scapegoat..
Just as they do in sport when a once successful team has an unexpected loss its often the coach that gets the blame.. and is subsequently fired
Even though it was just a series of unfotrunate events [stupid decisions] in the USA that were out of his control and resulted in Toyotas loss.
I reas about this on another auto website – and it said that Toyoda apparently has a passion for performance cars which could mean that the next generation Supra could actually make it into production.
The Supra was an awesome sports car however for some reason it was axed [probably something to do with their F1 dreams] this meant that the GT-R became the “king” of Japanese sports coupes and since then Nissan have continued to lift the bar in terms of performance etc..
So it will have to be something really special inorder to beat the New GT-R.
the supra was a good sportscar. but not as good as the gtr in its time. even the current ferrari price tagged toyota LFA cant beat the GTR….there is no way a cheaper FTHS or supra replacement can beat the GTR
is toyota supposed to be immune to an economic slow down? cant blame it all on watanabe
This new dude looks a little younger than the balding accountant looking japanese version of howard, he replaces. Hopefully he gets toyota making some interesting cars as people have said earlier. I dont think this is in response to their first loss in 70 years, in 2005 toyota replaced the president so it might be a new president every 3 years just to make sure they dont get too comfy in their job and start getting slack and to keep things fresh, through new ideas and innovation.. not mention tradition of having a family member as the CEO.
Please bring back the Supra. Thank you. That is all.
japanese pride is a powerful thing but to fall on your own samurai that’s a different matter.
……or maybe he was pushed?
Either way, I’m surprised he didn’t jump before the headline broke.
Prior to the economic slow down which has occured in the last 5 months… in terms of commerical impact.
Toyota were breaking records after records and gained number 1 status under Watanabe…
Watanabe is getting replaced because of multiple reasons… NOT just because of Toyota’s first ever operating loss which again as stated occured all in the last 6 months. Toyota usually has top shelf management shuffling…. every 3-4 years….
also just a comment on the Supra and Skyline rivalry…
Big fan of japanese sports performance cars… and as tough and powerful the previous Supra… Skyline GTR has always been a rung above it…
The Supra was also releatively cheaper than the GTR in every model released… Supra’s main competition price and performance wise were the RX-7, GTO, Fairlady… and usually were favourites for high end tuning due to its legendary tough engine… the RX-7 however were prefered for drifting for its smaller chassis and lighter weight…
Not accounting the 4WD turbo sedans (EVO and WRX, Caldina, GT4s etc)
the hierarchy of Japanese performance usually.. (tuning/racing wise)
[1] First tier: NSX and GTR
[2] 2nd tier: Supra, RX7
[3] 3rd tier: Sylvia, Fairlady, MR2 GT, GTO,
[4] 4th tier: Type R (Civic),
Im not entirely correct its been a while, but usually when people race in Japan they match up to the above tiers approximately…
Supra’s engine however allowed it to withstand some of the highest tuning/modifications without replacing stock engine parts (pistons, cam shafts etc).
Usually, people can spend the same amount of money on a Supra to match the price of a Skyline GTR… to make it relatively even in terms of value… and the Supra would tear it apart in power output and such…
This seemed inevitable, when he recently said (when reporting on the manufacturing shutdown due to bad US sales that he (emphasis on the HE) hadnt forseen the extent of the economic slowdown. He has committed the proverbial sepukku for the good of the company, whether he was going to be reshuffled or not. A bit different from the finger pointing and blame shifting you tend to see in Oz business.
Looks like disaster looming for Toyota.
Check out a few other Company performances when the Family Member runs the show
such as
Ford
Packer
probably many others
Yeah – the thing is when a Family member or relative is in charge of a company which bears the Family name they can become so focussed on trying to up hold the reputaton of not only the Company but also the Family that they become ultra-conservative..
They aren’t prepared [as their rivals are] to take as many risks or undertake research and development into ways which could possibly improve their cars and their image.. they simply rest on their laurels.
As a result they can end up behind the 8 ball not to mention behind the competition and have to spend millions/billions trying to regain their position etc
However; it looks as though Toyotaare willing to take risks as they have just committed themselves to F1 for at least another 5 years.. Which is commendable given the current economic climate etc. They are willing to waste even more money whilst continuing to be nothing more than an also ran – behind Ferrari McLaren and BMW