Toyota’s Akio Toyoda is Autocar’s Automotive Hero 2012

0
1483

Toyota’s president and chief executive Akio Toyoda has been named man of the year by Autocar magazine’s editor-in-chief Steve Cropley.

“Toyota started the year in a difficult position, yet Akio Toyoda has brought redemption to the company after a succession of damaging safety scares, then launched an extremely aspirational and impressive ‘halo’ car, the Toyota GT86,” said Cropley.  “Akio Toyoda, Autocar’s man of the year, is definitely the right man for the job.”

Akio Toyoda. Akio Toyoda.

Akio was the top man, with the runners up being:

Gerry McGovern – Land Rover design chief

Alan Mulally – Ford president and chief executive

Adrian Newey – F1 – Red Bull

Alex Zanardi – Paraolympian – 2 golds and 2 silvers in 2012

Lord Charles – March Goodwood

Ratan Tata – Chairman Tata group

Andy Green – World’s fastest man

Dr Martin Winterkorn – Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen AG

Charles Morgan – Morgan chairman