Former Toyota Chief Hiroshi Okuda Dies at 93, Having Championed Prius and Global Expansion
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 12
Former Toyota Chief Hiroshi Okuda Dies at 93, Having Championed Prius and Global Expansion
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 12
Summary
Toyota said Hiroshi Okuda has died at 93, marking the loss of the former chief who took over the struggling automaker in 1995.
Okuda, the first non-founding-family leader in decades, pushed the RAV4 and the 1997 Prius — the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid.
He also drove Toyota's overseas factory buildout, helping position the company to surpass General Motors as the world's largest automaker by vehicle sales.
Hybrids that Okuda backed early have regained momentum as buyers balk at high pure-EV prices and expensive fuel, underscoring his long-term influence on the industry.