Photo: Bertel Schmitt / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I have a real soft spot for Akio Toyoda, and it's almost entirely because the guy who runs Toyota refuses to act like it. Think about it: he's the founder's grandson, he could've coasted on the family name and ruled from a corner office, but instead he strapped himself into a car under the alias "MORIZO" and went and raced the Nürburgring 24 Hours for real, grease and all. That's not a hobby, that's a love affair with the machine. And his whole "let's make ever-better cars" mantra always gets me, because it's such a disarmingly soft thing for a CEO to say, yet it clearly lit a fire under thousands of engineers. The bit I love most is how he's said to just show up at a parking area to chat with random car nerds. No throne, no airs, just a man genuinely besotted with driving. Honestly, I find that kind of leadership hard not to respect.
Story
The Chairman Called Morizo: Akio Toyoda, the Executive in Love With Cars
Overview
Akio Toyoda (born May 3, 1956, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) is the grandson of Toyota Motor Corporation founder Kiichiro Toyoda and son of former chairman Shoichiro Toyoda. He joined Toyota in 1984 after earning an MBA from Babson College and rose to become President and CEO in 2009, a post he held until 2023 when he transitioned to Chairman. Beyond the boardroom, he competes in endurance racing under the alias "Morizo," including entries at the Nurburgring 24 Hours with Team GAZOO, and is known for the rallying motto "Let's make ever-better cars."
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Akio Toyoda
- Name (Japanese)
- 豊田章男
- Reading
- とよだあきお
- Born
- May 3, 1956 (age 70)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Monkey (申)
- Origin
- Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Agency
- Toyota Motor Corporation (Chairman of the Board)
- Agency history
- Toyota Motor Corporation, President and CEO (2009–2023)
A.G. Becker (investment bank, 1982–1984) - Active years
- 1984–present
- Occupation
- Businessman / Automotive Executive / Amateur Racing Driver
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Aichi University of Education Nagoya Elementary School
- Junior high
- Aichi University of Education Nagoya Junior High School
- High school
- Keio Senior High School (including exchange at Punahou School, Hawaii, USA)
- University
- Keio University, Faculty of Law, Department of Law (graduated 1979); Babson College, Graduate School of Business Administration, MBA (1982)
- Debut
- Joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1984 as a business executive.
Awards & achievements
- 2013 — Officier of the Legion of Honor (Republic of France)
- 2014 — Best Dresser Award, Politics & Economics Category
- 2017 — Blue Ribbon Medal (Government of Japan)
Timeline
- 1956Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture; eldest son of Shoichiro Toyoda.
- 1979Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Law, Department of Law.
- 1982Earned MBA from Babson College; joined investment bank A.G. Becker in the United States.
- 1984Left the investment bank and joined Toyota Motor Corporation.
- 2000Appointed to the Toyota Board of Directors.
- 2005Appointed Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Corporation.
- 2007Made his debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours race under the alias Morizo with Team GAZOO.
- 2009Appointed President and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation (at age 52, the youngest after the sales-manufacturing merger).
- 2010Won class victory at the Nurburgring 24 Hours race.
- 2012Became Chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (through 2014).
- 2018Re-appointed Chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (through 2023).
- 2023Transitioned to Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation; Koji Sato succeeded him as President.
- 2024Continued promoting electrification and mobility businesses as Toyota Chairman.
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Hiroko Toyoda (married 1985; daughter of Mamoru Tabuchi, Vice President of Mitsui & Co.)
- Children
- Son: Daisuke Toyoda (publicly acknowledged)
- Parents
- Father: Shoichiro Toyoda (former Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation)
- Siblings
- Elder sister: Atsuko
4. Personality
Hobbies
- Motorsport (endurance racing)
- Test driving
- Golf
Specialties
- Racing driver
- Hockey (represented Japan at university level)
Motto
Let's make ever-better cars.
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biography | Akio Toyoda | Subject | 2013 |
| Racing | Nurburgring 24 Hours (Team GAZOO / ROOKIE Racing) | Driver (as Morizo) | 2007 |
| Speech / Broadcast | Toyota New Year Address and Global Automotive Industry Speeches | Speaker | 2023 |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Akio Toyoda born?
Born May 3, 1956 (age 70).
Where is Akio Toyoda from?
Akio Toyoda is from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
What does Akio Toyoda do?
Akio Toyoda works as Businessman, Automotive Executive, Amateur Racing Driver.
What agency is Akio Toyoda with?
Akio Toyoda is with Toyota Motor Corporation (Chairman of the Board).
How long has Akio Toyoda been active?
1984–present.
What is Akio Toyoda known for?
Notable works include Akio Toyoda, Nurburgring 24 Hours (Team GAZOO / ROOKIE Racing), Toyota New Year Address and Global Automotive Industry Speeches.
Businessman — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.