Executive Leadership

Taking the Wheel as Toyota Skids

As he assumes the presidency of Toyota Motor Corporation after a 25 year apprenticeship, Akio Toyoda embodies the company's Toyota Way philosophy. For example, in a surprise visit to a Michigan dealership he crawled under a truck to satisfy his curiosity about a recall. The anecdote illustrates the concept of genchi genbutsu or  “go to the spot” — in other words, “see for yourself.” (Published by The New York Times.)