Toyota Robotics is Born to Double Down on Humanoid Robots, Akio Toyoda Will Lead a New Department
The world leader changes its structure, with some departments ceasing operations to integrate into others and some separating, as well as some position changes under the watch of President and CEO Kenta Kon.
Toyota Motor Corporation has announced structural changes within its framework that will take effect from January 1st. The most notable is launching its own robotics division, Toyota Robotics, as well as a new education and philosophy group to nurture new talents and pass knowledge and skills to a new generation - a group that will be personally led by Akio Toyoda.
Other departments, such as accounting or general administration and human resources, will disappear and integrate into a single group called Kanri (which means 'to watch' in Japanese). Others, like the carbon-neutral engineering development department, will disappear to integrate its functions within the power systems side, with the Frontier Research Center relocating to R&D and software development.
Toyota Robotics is Born to Continue Advancing in Humanoid Robots
Toyota Robotics aims to accelerate development related to robotics, considering it one of the key pillars for the future of the entire business. The goal - or at least that is what they officially state in a press release - is that these robots are not machines that take jobs from people, but that they are alongside them and can expand potential.
At the helm of this department will be Takefumi Shiga, global head of production as well as head of operations. This will allow personnel, experience, and robotics-related functions to expand throughout Toyota's operations, in order to accelerate the real application, commercialization, and deployment of robots in manufacturing locations - what the Japanese call genba.
Akio Toyoda Will Lead a Group to Maintain Toyota’s Philosophy
The group led by Akio Toyoda, on the other hand (while still maintaining his position as chairman of the board), will focus not so much on the manufacturing of cars or robots, but on the development of workers, a fundamental idea of his principle 'monozukuri'. The idea comes from Akio himself and will utilize his practical experience, all the lessons learned since he entered the company founded by his grandfather and the philosophy and skills of his predecessors.
In other words, a cradle of talent and individual skills development molded in Toyota’s own shape and supervised by one of the most influential figures in the automotive world. This group will also include Takanori Azuma (CEO of the Eastern Asian region and Oceania starting January 1), Hideki Fuji, and Yoshinori Ohno, who will also be the head of the Kanri group.
Subtle Changes for the Future of the Japanese Giant
Among other decisions from TMC, they have decided to separate two of their markets, India and the Middle East on one side, and East Asia and Oceania on the other. There are no substantial changes for Europe, with Yoshihiro Nakata remaining in charge as they await results from their negotiations with the EU to avoid being affected by future policies of the European Commission.
An interesting aspect is to see that in the department of external and public affairs functions of public relations for both Toyota and Lexus and Gazoo Racing are integrated. Thus, GR continues separating itself as a 100% sports brand - something we will see in the Rally World Championship next season, when Toyota Racing will run with one team (with the GR Celica Rally1 we have seen in tests) and Gazoo Racing Toyota with another (in their case with the GR Yaris Rally1, both sharing mechanics).
* This news is an AI translation of the original content. Motenic.com is part of Motor.es.