Late Great Shoichiro Toyoda Inducted To Japanese Automotive Hall Of Fame

At the induction ceremony, his son and the current Chairman, Akio Toyoda, delivered an acceptance speech encompassing his father’s career as a Toyota leader and engineer dedicated to his craft, saying that he embodied Kaizen, which roughly translates to “continuous improvement,” always looking to create something even better. He also remembered his late father as someone who personified the dream, vision, and spirit of the company founder’s goal to “make Japan a prosperous nation.”

Toyota has been at the forefront of technology, and if its latest solid-state batteries are as good as they appear, that vision will continue to be manifested for many years to come.