As the grandson of Akio Toyoda, the founder of Akio Toyoda, 66-year-old Akio Toyoda has been doing something to promote the long-term development of Toyota. In 2009, Akio Toyoda officially became the president of Toyota. At that time, Toyota suffered its first ever loss under the subprime mortgage crisis, and Akio Toyoda led the company out of the economic crisis with difficulty.
Since then, Toyota has experienced many challenges such as the "brake door" in the American market, the Japanese earthquake and the COVID-19 epidemic. In his previous resignation speech, Akio Toyoda said: "Looking back on this 13 year, every day was on thin ice, and I did my best. This is my true feeling. "
Recently, Akio Toyoda expressed his gratitude to China fans in Chinese on Weibo. Akio Toyoda said: "I became the president after the company suffered from Lehman crisis and had an operating deficit. I still can't forget hearing someone say,' When did Toyota become a company that only looked at money?' I was unwilling at the time. When I put forward the slogan of "making better cars", many people said they didn't understand and thought, "Why can't this person even say a digital goal? It can be described as walking alone. Everyone is waiting to see' what can you do?' If something goes wrong, there will be a voice of' Look, I told you so'. "
"Now, I have gained more and more like-minded partners, and the slogan of' making better cars' is also presented to the world in the form of commodities. This is my 13 years experience. Now, someone around me can safely give him the baton. The management team led by President Hiroshi Sato is also a partner who works with me all the year round to' make a better car' and learn from repeated failures. " Akio Toyoda said.
I think Akio Toyoda chose Henderson Sato mainly for three reasons: first, Sato can embody Toyota's concept and technology; Second, young; The third is to love a car. Akio Toyoda was called by his lover as "a racing driver delayed by the president". Sato, who likes cars, worked in a gas station when he was a student. Recently, he bought an AE86 from his own pocket and disassembled it at home. Besides, when Akio Toyoda races at the racecourse, Sato is always around.
The most important thing is that Yoko Sato and Akio Toyoda have the same concept. In the Fuji 24 Hours Endurance Race held in 20021,Sato led the team to develop a hydrogen engine and installed it on the racing car Corolla. The car ran 358 laps, 24 hours 1634 km, and successfully completed the challenge. After the game, when everyone was celebrating the victory, Sato was interviewed by the TV station. He couldn't help it on the spot and cried several times. It can be seen that his investment in hydrogen energy technology research and development and his belief in this technical route are consistent with Akio Toyoda.
Not long ago, Sato revealed that although the company is stepping up the development and production of more attractive pure electric vehicles, hydrogen energy is still the focus of the company's attention and will continue to expand the construction of hydrogen energy infrastructure. This also means that even if Toyota "changes coaches", it will continue to attach importance to hydrogen fuel vehicles.
On March 24th, Haima and Toyota reached a strategic cooperation on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The two sides will carry out extensive strategic cooperation in the research and development and industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to jointly promote the rapid popularization and industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell passenger cars.
Haima Automobile began to invest in the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from 20 13, and developed the fourth generation hydrogen fuel cell passenger car which can be used for demonstration operation. The pressure of the on-board hydrogen storage tank is increased from 35MPa to 70MPa, the power of the stack is increased from 30 kW to 100 kW, and it can travel 800 km in one hydrogenation.
This is Toyota's first hydrogen fuel cell passenger car cooperation project in China. Both sides regard Hainan Island as a large-scale physical examination and test site, and carry and use mature components and systems including Toyota's second-generation Mirai reactor on Haima's third-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. In 2024, the two sides will invest in small batches (models) for demonstration operation, and further expand the operation scale in 2025.
In addition, Toyota's future development has always adhered to the line of "diversified development". In terms of pure electricity, Toyota high-end brand Lexus took the lead in making a breakthrough, and RZ series became the first model of Lexus pure electric platform. The cockpit design logic of this model is different from that of Toyota brand, and it has turned to the direction of "new" cars. Lexus clearly put forward the specific goals of electrification in each stage: to launch electrified versions of all models in 2025; In 2035, its 100% models will be electrified; In 2050, achieve the goal of carbon neutrality in the whole life cycle of each car.
Judging from a series of recent actions and statements, even if Toyota changes coaches, its overall strategic direction is to pursue Akio Toyoda's idea and adhere to the idea of jointly developing various energy sources, including pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. What Sato Hengji has to do is how to carry this strategy forward and stick to the "initial heart". This is the hardest thing.
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