Toyota boss Akio Toyoda named 2021 World Car Person Of The Year

President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Akio Toyoda has been unanimously voted 2021 World Car Person of the Year by 93 World Car jurors from 28 countries.

Also in contention for the prestigious honour were finalists Luc Donckerwolke (Chief Creative Officer, Hyundai Motor Group), Euisin Chung (Chairman, Hyundai Motor Group), Tomiko Takeuchi (Mazda’s first-ever female chief engineer and programme manager of the MX-30) and Pratap Bose (Tata Motors’ Vice President, Global Design, who is the first-ever Indian to be nominated in the competition).

I would like to change this award from car ‘person’ of the year, to car ‘people’ of the year, because it’s the collective effort of all that have made Toyota what it is today

– Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC)

Akio Toyoda joined TMC in 1984, having graduated from Keio University with a degree in law and a master’s degree in business administration from Babson College in the USA. After working in many different areas of the business in Japan and overseas, he joined the TMC board of directors in 2000. Subsequently he held further senior and executive vice president roles before becoming TMC President in 2009.

The award celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the global automotive industry during each calendar year. Such contributions could include a significant impact to their brand or company or a significant safety, engineering, design or technical advancement.

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The World Car Person of the Year award is just one of six awards handed out annually by the World Car Awards. On receiving the award, Toyoda said: “On behalf of all 360 000 Toyota Team members around the world, thank you for this tremendous honour. If you don’t mind, however, I would like to change this award from car ‘person’ of the year, to car ‘people’ of the year, because it’s the collective effort of all our global employees, retailers and suppliers that have truly made Toyota what it is today.”