Toyota will restructure its regional operations and create a new robotics division, taking effect January 1, 2027.
The automaker will establish a company-wide Toyota Robotics organisation led by Takefumi Shiga, Operating Officer and Chief Production Officer. The robotics unit will consolidate expertise and staff currently spread across the business. Toyota ranks robotics as a core pillar of its future business.
Toyota's carbon neutral engineering centre will fold into its Powertrain Company. Engineers from that centre will join powertrain planning, advanced and mass production development, concentrating on hybrid systems. Toyota says this approach will help it keep offering customers a range of options. The Frontier Research Center will be absorbed by the Advanced R&D and Engineering Company and the Software Development Center.
New regional chiefs will lead restructured territories. Mark Templin will head North America, Sukenaga Ota will lead China, and Masando Hashimoto will lead Asia. India and the Middle East will form their own region under Masakazu Yoshimura, who notes a new Indian plant is planned. Takanori Azuma will lead the separate East Asia & Oceania Region. The previous regional leaders will become Senior Fellows.
Chairman Akio Toyoda will personally lead a new Toyota Philosophy and Education Group devoted to developing people. Administration, human resources and accounting will merge into a single Kanri Group.