Toyota Ex-Chief Okuda, Father of the Prius, Dies at 93

Toyota – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Toyota ex-chief Okuda has passed away at the age of 93, the company confirmed this week. He was one of the most respected leaders in Japan’s business world, and his death has left many people in shock.

Hiroshi Okuda took charge of Toyota in 1995. He was the first person outside the founding family to lead the company in many years. At that time, Toyota was seen as a safe, slow-moving firm. Okuda wanted to change that image.

He pushed his team to think bigger and act faster. Under his watch, Toyota built cars that stood out from the rest. Two of them still shape the market today.

The first was the RAV4, a compact SUV that helped start a whole new car segment. The second was the Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. Back then, few people believed hybrid or electric cars had a real future. Okuda took the risk anyway.

That risk paid off. Years later, buyers facing high fuel costs and pricey electric cars turned back to hybrids. Japanese brands, led by Toyota, still lead this segment today.

Okuda also grew Toyota’s reach outside Japan. He opened new factories in other countries. This move helped Toyota grow bigger every year. Eventually, the company passed General Motors to become the world’s top car seller by sales.

His impact went far beyond the car industry. Okuda led Keidanren, Japan’s biggest business group. For years, he also gave advice to top government leaders. People often called him outspoken, since he rarely held back his opinions.

He also had an adventurous side. In the early 1970s, while running Toyota’s operations in the Philippines, he crossed a jungle to meet leftist guerrilla fighters. It was a bold move that showed his fearless nature.

Okuda held a black belt in martial arts, which matched his tough, no-nonsense style at work. In a 1998 interview, he said his goal was simple. He wanted Toyota to move away from its cautious past and become bolder in the future.

He stayed true to that goal throughout his time as president and later as chairman. His choices reshaped how the world sees Toyota today.

Toyota confirmed his passing but did not share further details about his death or funeral plans. Tributes are expected to pour in from across the auto industry and the business world in the coming days.

Okuda’s legacy lives on through the cars he helped create. The Prius changed how people think about fuel-efficient driving. The RAV4 remains one of the best-selling SUVs worldwide. Both stand as proof of his vision.

His story is a reminder that bold ideas often shape the future, even when few people believe in them at first.