Toyota Motor : Determined to Take Responsibility―President Kon's Heartfelt Commitment to His New Role

About this update from Toyota Motor Corp.

President Kon There are many moments from my time as Akio's secretary that have stayed with me. I could spend an hour going through everything, but I will mention just a few. Today, Akio is presiding over this meeting as chairperson. I still remember the first time he sat in that seat, back in 2010. That morning, he showed me the notebook he always carried with him. Under the heading "What kind of growth should Toyota seek?" it read, "It's not simply about pursuing expansion and seeking to become the world's largest company; growth is about being able to continuously change ourselves in response to the ever-changing needs of customers and society." It also said, "I want Toyota to keep growing." During this period (2009), in the aftermath of the global financial crisis Toyota reported its first loss since the company was founded. For Akio, being in the red meant he could not support employees in taking on new challenges, and he was forced to make decisions that ended projects and caused others to suffer. I believe this has allowed us to become a company that, rather than putting on the brakes when we want to invest in growth, for example, can keep its foot on the accelerator. The words he struggled to find that day, and the way he carried himself, have stayed with me ever since. The principle that guides me as president comes down to one question: What would Akio Toyoda do? He would always say, "When making a decision, picture the faces of those who will be most saddened by it," and "The role of those at the top is to make decisions and take responsibility." In terms of taking responsibility, right now there is only one person responsible for Toyota Motor and the Toyota Group-Akio Toyoda.

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