Toyoda's New Year Address: Approaching 70, Focus Shifts to Cultivating Next Generation

Deep News01-09

On January 9, according to Toyota China's official Weibo account, on January 7, 2026, Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda and President Koji Sato delivered their New Year's address at the company's headquarters.

In 2025, Toyota delivered a record high of 9.94 million vehicles globally and launched multiple new models. Reflecting on the past year's challenges and pressures, Chairman Toyoda remarked with emotion, "Everyone has endured many hardships; I am grateful that you all still worked together as one, giving your full effort." He emphasized that "ARIGATO (thank you)" is not only an expression of gratitude to customers but also a tribute to every individual who strives and works hard.

Looking ahead to 2026, Toyoda set the annual keyword as "Field" (Ba). He stated that the future is not determined by any single person but must be created collectively by everyone. A "Field" can be a battleground, the front lines, the marketplace, or even a crucible of intense struggle—it is the space where each person exerts their value and assumes responsibility. He proposed three key action directions: first, to advance talent development and prevent Toyota from becoming an "ordinary company"; second, to contemplate the overall structure of the group; and third, to promote corporate cultural activities.

Toyoda specifically mentioned that he is approaching his seventieth year and has begun contemplating how to best utilize the remainder of his life. He is determined to accomplish one primary goal: to cultivate the next generation and ensure Toyota does not become an ordinary company.

"What do we want to leave for the world of the future?" To answer this, Toyota has put forward the "TO YOU" vision—to work diligently for the smile of every customer, to manufacture better cars, and to change the future of the automobile.

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