During Akio Toyoda’s first major address to the American audience, the new president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corp. didn’t start off his press conference by talking about how well the 2010 Prius was selling or about how Toyota lost $4.3 billion last year and will work harder this year.
Instead, 53-year old Toyoda, who was appointed president in June, played a clip of himself lapping the famous Nurburgring track
“I am what you would call in America a car nut,” Toyoda, the grandson of the Japanese automaker’s founder, said. “I am passionate about driving and I race as well.”
He said that he hopes to throw in visual appeal and passion into the mix of Toyota’s current model lineup, which is mainly known for its reliability and good value. Toyoda said that the company will develop an affordable, fun-to-drive sports car for the American market within a few years.
“I am very excited about it and plan to fast-track it,” he said.
What do you think Toyoda is talking about? While many of us are hoping that it’s the next-generation Supra, it will most likely be the Toyobaru – internally known as the 086A.
- By: Kap Shah
Source: Detroit News
