New Hire Ceremony for 1,440 Employees: Koji Sato Starts his Presidential Role at a Car Manufacturing Company
Toyota Welcomes New Employees with a Memorable Car-Themed Ceremony
In a unique and symbolic gesture, Toyota Motor Corporation's new management team, led by President Koji Sato, welcomed 1,440 incoming employees with a car-themed entrance ceremony on April 3, 2023, at the company's headquarters in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
President Sato, addressing the new hires, emphasized the importance of collaboration and a forward-looking mindset as they embark on this new journey together. He reiterated Toyota's commitment to evolving with intelligence and electrification technologies, viewing agreements not as goals but as starting points for progress.
As a special surprise, cars were incorporated into the ceremony to make it memorable and symbolic. The cherished rides of Chairman Akio Toyoda, Oyaji (Mitsuru) Kawai, Takanori Azuma, and the operating officers were displayed, spanning the full range from sports cars to compact, SUVs, and trucks. This showcased Toyota as a full-lineup company.
Each member of the management team shared what their cars mean to them and sent messages to the new employees. The newcomers were encouraged to look through the cars and take pictures to remember the day.
Akio Toyoda moved to the position of chairman, and President Sato expressed feelings of nervousness, as this was his first job as president with Toyoda present as chairman.
The ceremony concluded with a poll to find out which car was deemed the coolest among those driven by Toyota's management team. The results of the Toyota Times on-site poll will be revealed in a later article.
This ceremony marked the first such event under the new management team and symbolized the essence of Toyota’s culture and the significance of the new employees' roles in advancing the company's mission.
In the spirit of Toyota's diverse product offering, the memorable car-themed ceremony highlighted the variety of vehicles in the company's portfolio, spanning from sports cars to compact SUVs and trucks. The new employees were encouraged to envision their role within Toyota's future, particularly in the areas of finance, transportation, automotive, and technology as the company evolves with intelligence and electrification technologies.
