Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, has officialy been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. The honor is awarded to figures that have made significant and meaningful contributions to the automotive industry.
Toyoda was one of eight inductees at the ceremony held in Detroit earlier this week. He was joined by Giampaolo Dallara (founder of Dallara Automobili), Harold Goddijn, Corinne Vigreux, Peter-Frans Pauwels and Pieter Geelen (founders of navigation technology company TomTom), and Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson (founders of the Barrett-Jackson auction company).
Toyoda was recognized for the leadership he exhibited during the massive wave of recalls that Toyota experienced in the United States from 2009 to 2011. During his term as president of the automaker, he took responsibility for the brand’s shortcomings and led efforts to rebuild public trust.
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He was also recognized for his efforts in the world of motorsports and enthusiast driving. Toyoda’s advocacy for “no more boring cars” pushed Toyota to keep building sporty models, eventually branching out to the Gazoo Racing sub-brand. These efforts will culminate with the upcoming GR GT, Toyota’s new V8-powered halo car.
Akio Toyoda is the fourth Toyoda family inductee into the Automotive Hall of Fame, following his father Shoichiro, his grandfather Kiichiro, and his grandfather’s cousin Eiji.
He paid tribute to his family during his acceptance speech: “Like my grandfather and father before me, I am deeply moved by this honor, and I humbly promise to continue to earn it every day in support of this industry and this automotive family that I am so grateful to be a part of. Together there is nothing we can’t imagine, nothing we can’t create, and nothing we can’t overcome.”
