An automotive legend has passed, Mr. Eiji Toyoda.  Matching up with the common knowledge that Japan’s people have some of the longest lifespans, Eiji Toyoda hit the triple digit mark of 100 before he passed on September 17th.  In fact, he just made it seeing as how his birthday was just on the 12th.  The result of his death was heart failure, but that was seemingly the only failure associated with the Toyota mastermind.  Eiji, who rose to the top as the automaker’s longest-serving president to date and, later, as its chairman, is widely credited as spearheading Toyota’s entrance into the lucrative North American market.  In addition, it was under his watch that Toyota began manufacturing cars in the U.S., launched the Lexus brand, and began working on hybrid-electric cars.  Any one of those achievements would be admirable to have presided over, but all three together make for a really special auto enthusiast and manager.  Eiji Toyoda became president of Toyota in 1967 and was Chairman until 1992.

– Evan W.

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