Toyota Has 5 Automotive Hall of Famers, and 4 Are From One Family

All In The Family

Not all automotive companies these days can claim to still be run in some shape, way, or form by a member of the founding family. Most have sold out to other new owners, or have largely disappeared altogether. Toyota stands as an impressive example of how keeping it in the family as much as possible can still translate to major success.

Akio Toyoda is the latest member inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, but Toyota as a company has 4 other members: 3 from the family and 1 enterprising individual. These individuals’ influence spans over 70 years in America, contributing to the industry as a whole; it’s time to get to know the other Toyota members.

The Founder

In 1921, Kiichiro Toyoda traveled to Europe and the U.S. as part of an industry tour; he was inspired by the fact that America was filled with the Ford Model T and wanted to establish the same automotive relevance in his home country of Japan. Soon after, Toyota was established, but America was always the benchmark, and in 1945, Kiichiro urged his people to catch up to the rapidly growing American car industry. In 1958, he oversaw the first Toyota car to be exported, called the Crown.

The Builder

The next member to make an impression was Eiji Toyoda, who served as a long-time leader for the automaker. In 1950, he tried to forge a partnership with Ford that fell through, but he learned how to produce cars efficiently at massive scale, eventually forming the Toyota Production System. Eiji also struck a deal with General Motors in the 80s to build the joint-venture manufacturing plant (NUMMI) in Fremont, California. Finally, Eiji was also still leading the brand when Toyota birthed Lexus.

The Innovator

Taichi Ohno is the only person in the Hall of Fame under Toyota that isn’t part of the Toyoda family. He was an industrial engineer who, along with Eiji, saw the need to streamline and scale up the brand’s production. Ohno is said to have been inspired by American Supermarkets to help build the process for the Toyota Production System (TPS).

The Modern Age

In 1985, Shoichiro Toyoda (Akio’s father) established the first fully owned Toyota manufacturing plant in the United States. It all started in Georgetown, Kentucky, with the Camry, and three years later, the Corolla would establish a base in Cambridge, Ontario. Shoichiro also wanted Toyota to be a good corporate citizen and contributed heavily to local communities and foundations; he even established the Toyota Supplier Support Center in Kentucky in 1992.

The Racer

Akio’s contributions to Toyota’s legacy are as impactful as those who came before him. When he took over the brand in 2009, it was a trial by fire: he first faced a world reeling from the financial crisis and, soon after, a major recall issue. He was able to steer the brand back on the right path and even reignited Toyota’s passion for fun cars, establishing the Gazoo Racing (GR) line, but at the same time keeping Toyota a leader in hybrid technology.