Toyota Latin America CEO Masahiro Inoue to become new Daihatsu president

Toyota Motor Corporation revamps Daihatsu’s top management team as it plans to fix the issues surrounding the latter moving forward.

Daihatsu Rocky

Daihatsu has been in hot waters after admitting it has committed irregularities regarding the side collision crash test for four vehicles including the all-new Vios and Wigo. The same irregularity was found during the crash testing of the Raize Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Rocky HEV. Daihatsu voluntarily conducted an in-house collision test to assure its customers that the Toyota Raize HEV and the Daihatsu Rocky HEV meet current regulatory safety standards.  

The irregularities in Daihatsu’s crash testing prompted Toyota to take action, which involved changing the top management. Of note, Daihatsu is a subsidiary of Toyota.

Toyota Motor Corporation announced that Masahiro Inoue, who heads the Japanese car brand’s operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, will take over as Daihatsu’s next president from March 1, 2024. 

Daihatsu president Masahiro Inoue, effective March 1

In addition, Daihatsu’s current vice president, Hiromasa Hoshika, will be joined by Toyota Motor Kyushu vice president Masanori Kuwata. Kuwata-san has also previously led Toyota’s human resources. Toyota Customer First Promotion Group Deputy Chief Officer will also join Daihatsu after being appointed as a director.    

On the other hand, the current Daihatsu chairman Sunao Matsubayashi, and president Soichiro Okudaira will resign from their posts.  

Toyota said that Daihatsu will enter a rebuilding phase, guided by the new top executives. The Japanese car giant added that Daihatsu will return to its roots as a “mobility company centered on compact vehicles.” This move was deemed necessary to not overburden its overall operations and capacities. 

Toyota president Koji Sato

Toyota president Koji Sato is confident with Inoue’s capability to rebuild the Daihatsu brand. Sato said that Inoue “has for many years been working on structural reform of Toyota's Latin American business, including a renewed regional management system involving Brazil and Argentina.” 

Sato also said that Inoue “is a leader who has moved reforms forward through dialogue with frontline members.”

Toyota also understands that Daihatsu’s first step for reform is to implement measures for preventing recurrence of the crash testing irregularities. The reform consists of three pillars: management reform, culture reform, and monozukuri/kotozukuri (making things and ideas) reform.   

Visit Philkotse.com for more automotive news.