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☆ Who Is Koji Sato? Behind Next Toyota CEO’s Rapid Rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Megumi Fujikawa | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Toyota’s Chief Branding Officer Koji Sato, in a light jacket, will replace Akio Toyoda as the auto maker’s chief executive in April. TOKYO—It wasn’t too long ago that Toyota Motor Corp.’s Koji Sato found himself in the front passenger seat of a Lexus electric vehicle driven by his boss, Akio Toyoda . “What happens if I hit the accelerator?” asked Mr. Toyoda. “Give it a go,” replied Mr. Sato, and the two men laughed and whooped together as the car whizzed around a test track.

For the last three years, the 66-year-old has built up the "Toyota Times", hiring Japanese journalists and ramping up coverage of the company to counter what he sees as persistent misinformation and unfair criticism. "What I find unfortunate is that the media often thrives on conflict, setting BEVs against hybrids, for example," Toyoda said on the Toyota Times recently. After almost an hour of scripted presentations and banter, the Toyota Times host turned to questions from reporters. Toyoda has increasingly appeared to eschew traditional media as the company fell out of favour with environmentalists who once lauded its green technology. The Toyota Times also exclusively publishes the closely watched results of the company's spring wage negotiations with its union.

☆ Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda to Step Down and Become Chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Peter Landers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda said it was time to pass the baton to a younger executive. TOKYO— Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Akio Toyoda , a scion of the founding family who has led the company since 2009, will step down from his current roles and become chairman in April, Toyota said Thursday. Chief Branding Officer Koji Sato , a 53-year-old executive who has led Toyota’s luxury Lexus division since 2020, will become president and chief executive in April, the company said. Takeshi Uchiyamada , Toyota’s chairman, will step down from that post.

☆ Toyota names Lexus chief Koji Sato CEO as Akio Toyoda takes chairman role
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda and Toyota's GAZOO Racing Company President Koji Sato attend an event for Toyota GAZOO Racing and LEXUS at Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonCompanies Toyota Motor Corp FollowLexus FollowTOKYO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Thursday that Akio Toyoda will step down as president and chief executive to become chairman from April 1, and hand over the helm of Japan's biggest automaker to the company's top branding officer. Koji Sato, a 53-year-old who is also president of Toyota's luxury brand Lexus, will become the new CEO, the company said. He has held positions as the president of Lexus International and Gazoo Racing Company, Toyota’s motorsport brand, since 2020. He also took on an executive role at Toyota and became its chief branding officer in January 2021.

☆ Koji Sato, incoming Toyota CEO, must navigate shift to clean energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Currently the CEO of Toyota's luxury brand Lexus, Sato will succeed Akio Toyoda as the CEO of Toyota on April 1. Under Toyoda, the automaker has followed a go-slow approach to electric vehicles, arguing that the hybrid technology it pioneered with the Prius will remain important along with investments in hydrogen. Sato started his career at Toyota in 1992, before rising through the ranks to become chief engineer of Lexus International in 2016, according to his profile on the Toyota website. That passion was obvious in a brief video clip released in 2021, where Sato sits next to Toyoda as they test-drive a Toyota Lexus. As Toyoda accelerates and whoops excitedly, Sato can be seen with a wide grin and occasionally laughing, unable to contain his delight.

☆ Akio Toyoda steps down: Toyota names Koji Sato new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Toyota’s longtime president and CEO Akio Toyoda is stepping down and handing over the reins of the world’s largest automaker to Lexus chief Koji Sato. The Japanese company announced the shakeup Thursday, saying that Toyoda would be appointed chairman of the board as Sato takes over daily management. Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota’s current chairman, will resign from his post but remain on the board, the company said. “I believe that over the past 13 years, I have built a solid foundation for passing the baton forward.”Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, speaking at the company's showroom in Tokyo on Dec. 14, 2021. Sato will take over as CEO of Toyota in April.

☆ Breakingviews: Toyota without Toyoda takes a small step forward
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Jan 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder of the world’s largest automaker, is handing over his title as Toyota (7203.T) president, which effectively means chief executive, to Koji Sato. The new boss is currently chief branding officer and president of the Lexus luxury unit. Sato’s role at Lexus might be more pleasing to climate activists who have lambasted Toyota for not transitioning to pure electric vehicles quickly enough. (By Pete Sweeney)Follow @Breakingviews on Twitter(The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Consumer Reports calls Ford’s automated driving tech much better than Tesla’s
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And in a recent ranking by Consumer Reports, which tested ADAS from 12 different carmakers, Tesla’s ranked seventh. GM’s Super Cruise, which ranked second, is the only other system tested by Consumer Reports that works this way. Ford’s driver monitoring technology is one of the major reasons that BlueCruise ranked so highly in Consumer Reports’ testing. Kia and Genesis did not immediately respond to requests from CNN Business for comments on Consumer Reports’ assessments. For the most part, vehicle owner’s manuals were of little use in learning how to use the systems, Consumer Reports said.

☆ Tesla needs to start acting more like Toyota and GM if it really wants to win the electric car race
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla is the world leader in electric vehicles, but it needs to diversify its lineup. If Elon Musk wants to be a top player like GM, Volkswagen, or Toyota, he needs to make cheaper cars. The Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X, which cost between $44,000 and $120,000, accounted for nearly 70% of EVs sold in the US in 2022. The Model 3 and Model Y, by far Tesla's top sellers, went on sale in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Elon Musk announced plans for a $25,000 car at a Tesla event in 2020, but the car hasn't materialized.

☆ Why some cars from the 1990s are soaring in value
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Not that long ago, cars from the 1990s were just used cars. In addition to insuring collectible cars, Hagerty also owns the auction company Broad Arrow. Values for 1990s-era collectible cars have risen by an average of 78% over the past three years, “which is huge,” Rabold said. Cars from the ’90s have at least some modern comfort and safety features, and even relatively inexpensive cars can have respectable power and performance. We’re talking about “collectible” cars.

☆ Toyota says it plans to transform older cars into eco-friendly models to reduce carbon emissions, as the carmaker faces increased criticism for EV hesitancy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Toyota plans to convert older cars into eco-friendly models by updating parts, the AP reported. CEO Akio Toyoda announced the effort at an industry event in Tokyo on Friday, per the AP. Toyota has been reluctant to produce EVs due to high costs and concerns about lack of demand. Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda said the company plans to use a "conversion" strategy that involves transforming older cars into more sustainable models by replacing certain parts, the Associated Press reported. At the time, Toyota also pledged to make all models in its Lexus line electric in the US, China, and Europe by 2030.

☆ 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T: Fully Loaded, Affordably Priced
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Dan Neil | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

MORE IS LESS Starting at $43,150, the 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T is equipped with a 300-hp engine, all-wheel drive and a long list of no-cost premium features, including heated front seats, navigation system and power hands-free liftgate. The GV70 2.5T Advanced, seen here, had an as-tested price of $52,925. This thundering herd of tiny hooves accounted for about a half-million sales in 2022, depending on what you count as a compact (vs. midsize), premium (vs. luxury) and crossover (vs. SUV). Alas, the grim truth about 4-H is that, no matter how primped and polished the contestants, when they enter the show ring, they become livestock—commoditized, consumable. Discerning judges look past the braided tails and cow mascara.

☆ Back to the future: Toyota sets sights on old-car upgrades in zero-emissions drive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda and Toyota's GAZOO Racing Company President Koji Sato attend an event for Toyota GAZOO Racing and LEXUS at Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonCHIBA, Japan, Jan 13 (Reuters) - In an eye-catching bid to show that cars can be clean while appealing to old-school petrolheads, Toyota Motor (7203.T) on Friday showcased zero-emission versions of its 1980s sports range, which still boasts a strong global fan base. Toyota President Akio Toyoda said remodelling existing cars needed to be explored as an option to achieve a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. In Japan, only one in about 20 cars on the road are new, and older ones are mainly powered at least partly by gasoline. "It's important to leave a choice for cars that are already loved or owned by someone," Toyoda, a self-confessed car-lover and race-car driver, said at the event.

☆ Wells Fargo faces another setback with $1.7 billion penalty
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But first, Wells Fargo heads to the penalty box, again. Wells Fargo faces the music. The regulators have once again come knocking at Wells Fargo, and it ain't pretty. Wells Fargo was ordered to pay $2 billion back to customers and pay a $1.7 billion civil penalty by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for illegal activity involving auto loans, mortgages, and deposit accounts that impacted over 16 million accounts. "Wells Fargo is a corporate recidivist," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra told reporters on a call Tuesday, according to The Wall Street Journal, adding that the settlement "should not be read as a sign that Wells Fargo has moved past its longstanding problems."

House bows are becoming a popular way for real-estate agents to add pizzazz to newly sold homes. House bows are often purchased by local realtors to celebrate closings or drum up interest in a property, and by particularly spendy gifters looking to surprise their family members or spouses with a new abode. King Size BowsSteven Rosenfield, the owner of Giant Bows in Old Lyme, Connecticut, has observed a similar bump in business. Hughes charges around $600 plus shipping for an average 6-foot, two-loop house bow. A King Size Bow used for decoration.

A Texas A&M student who was last seen near the university's main campus has been missing for four days, according to officials. Hoang was seen possibly driving a silver 2009 Lexus, according to the poster. His family reported seeing video of his vehicle driving west on Highway 21, as if leaving the eastern Texas city of Caldwell. The College Station Police Department is investigating the student's disappearance with the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to police spokesperson David Simmons. Texas A&M University did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Buying a car is finally easier — but watch out for high interest rates and lingering inventory issues
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Easing supply chain crises mean more vehicles on lots, used vehicle prices are down, and demand is normalizing. "There's really not a lot of ways to escape them unless you are willing to change the car that you're buying," Drury said. As far as luxury cars go, there aren't many deals to be found, he added. Used cars are displayed on the sales lot at Marin Acura in July 2021. Car-buyers might find a used vehicle could suit their needs while they hold out for lower prices surrounding new vehicles.

☆ Exclusive: Toyota to outline 3-year EV plan changes to suppliers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Norihiko Shirouzu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The leading Japanese automaker is expected to detail the EV plan changes through early 2026, communicating the adjustments to major suppliers, the people said on condition of anonymity as the information is confidential. Toyota is set to convene a major powwow of suppliers in February, the first such global supplier convention since the pandemic. The working group has been charged with outlining plans to improve Toyota's EV approach, including considering a potential successor to its new EV platform, e-TNGA. Toyota has been working with two suppliers Denso (6902.T) and Aisin (7259.T) for its EV reboot. That resulted in a soon-to-be-marketed, China-only Toyota electric sedan called the bZ3, powered by BYD batteries.

☆ Russian prankster impersonating Macron spoke to Poland's Duda after blast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Emmanuel, believe me, I am extra careful," Duda tells the caller. "I don't want to have war with Russia and believe me, I am extra careful, extra careful." "During the call, President Andrzej Duda realized from the unusual way the interlocutor conducted the conversation that there might have been an attempted hoax attempt and ended the conversation." Duda's office was investigating how the callers managed to get through to him together with the relevant services, it said. In 2020 Vovan and Lexus called Duda pretending to be U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, raising questions about security and call screening in Duda's office.

☆ Car companies want to make billions by charging monthly fees for features like heated seats, but buyers won't pay up
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Car companies expect to make billions charging customers recurring fees for vehicle features. As vehicles become increasingly connected to the internet, car companies aim to rake in billions by having customers pay monthly or annual subscriptions to access certain features. But car companies still haven't figured out exactly what customers are willing to pay for, and what feels like a frustrating upcharge. An April study by Cox Automotive found that 75% of consumers are not willing to subscribe to most vehicle features. Hackers have helped car owners upgrade their vehicles for years, and subscription features could be their next target, Vice reported.

☆ Tesla EVs ranked among the worst in annual reliability survey by Consumer Reports (Nov. 15)
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File PhotoNov 15 (Reuters) - Electric vehicles (EVs) from Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and other brands were among the least reliable vehicles in the United States, Consumer Reports magazine's annual reliability survey showed on Tuesday. Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, climbed by four spots and was ranked 19th out of the 24 brands. read moreThe top-ranked brands in the survey were Toyota and Lexus, and seven of the ten best-scoring brands were Japanese and Korean. Among brands owned by Detroit automakers, Lincoln was the only one in the top ten, securing the tenth place. The magazine's annual survey of new vehicle reliability predicts which cars will give owners fewer or more problems than their competitors, based on data collected.

The chip is called the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC and was developed by Xilinx, which was acquired by AMD this year. This will allow automakers to update not only software, but also the chip, after the car is sold, Rehan Tahir, AMD’s senior product marketing manager for automotive told Reuters. Tahir said the Aisin auto parking system will start production on 2024 models, but declined to say which car brands would use it. Tahir said the Aisin system works with four cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors on the car to parallel park and also back into parking spaces. But the human in the car will have to decide if that spot is in a no-parking zone, he said.

☆ Tesla EVs ranked worst in annual reliability survey by Consumer Reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The logo of Tesla is seen in Taipei, Taiwan August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File PhotoNov 15 (Reuters) - Electric vehicles (EVs) from Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and other brands were among the least reliable vehicles in the United States, Consumer Reports magazine's annual reliability survey showed on Tuesday. Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, climbed by four spots and was ranked 19th out of the 24 brands. read moreThe top-ranked brand overall in the survey was Lexus, and seven of the ten best-scoring brands were Japanese and Korean. The magazine's annual survey of new vehicle reliability predicts which cars will give owners fewer or more problems than their competitors, based on data collected.

☆ Tesla, Mercedes EVs ranked worst in annual reliability survey by Consumer Reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Tesla is seen in Taipei, Taiwan August 11, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File PhotoNov 15 (Reuters) - Electric vehicles (EVs) and full-size pick-up trucks from Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and other brands were among the least reliable vehicles in the United States, Consumer Reports magazine's annual reliability survey showed on Tuesday. Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, climbed by four spots and was ranked 19th out of the 24 brands. read moreThe top-ranked brand overall in the survey was Lexus, and seven of the ten best-scoring brands were Japanese and Korean. The magazine's annual survey of new vehicle reliability predicts which cars will give owners fewer or more problems than their competitors, based on data collected.

☆ Chip Shortages Still Plague Toyota, Some Other Auto Makers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( River Davis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO—Overall demand for semiconductors may be softening, but the world’s biggest auto maker says it still can’t get its hands on enough chips. Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday lowered its Toyota and Lexus production target for the current fiscal year through March to 9.2 million units from a previous goal of 9.7 million, citing the risk of chip-supply issues.

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