Five Tips for Toyota’s New CEO on His First Day
By East Peterson-Trujillo
Starting a new job is scary and exciting. On April 1, Mr. Koji Sato will take the helm of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Mr. Sato, here are some tips for your first day as CEO of the world’s most anti-climate automaker!
- Be prepared: Review key information that was sent to you before your first day, like the letter from 54 civil society organizations from around the globe that called on you to end anti-electric vehicle lobbying and to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles at Toyota.
- Be open-minded: Be open to new ideas and ways of doing things, even if they’re different from what you’re used to. One new idea that you should consider is to make your cars with fossil-free, equitable, and responsible supply chains that protect communities, workers, and our planet.
- Show enthusiasm: Show enthusiasm for changing Toyota’s track record as the automaker with the worst impact on climate policy globally for the past two years.
- Take initiative: As the CEO, you can establish a clear commitment to Indigenous Peoples’ right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent, which should be extended to your suppliers.
- Be yourself: Don’t try to be someone you’re not—like Akio Toyoda, who was adamant that engineers keep the Prius a hybrid instead of making it an electric vehicle. Half of global car buyers want EVs, so Toyota should make more than one.
Sincerely,
Public Citizen
Akio Toyoda couldn’t steer Toyota ahead in the E.V. race. I hope incoming CEO Koji Sato can.
Sign Public Citizen’s petition to CEO Koji Sato. He must correct the course on Toyota’s anti-climate track record.