Chairman Akio Toyoda is slated to be the next chairman of the Automobile Business Association of Japan (ABAJ). For this special program, we welcomed the executive director of ABAJ to the studio to discuss the association's purpose and history.
“Akio Toyoda Named Next Chairman of Automobile Business Association of Japan”
This was the headline seen across the morning news on May 20.
This marks the first change in the ABAJ chairperson in 8 years as Toyoda takes over from Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada.
What kind of organization will Akio Toyoda now head? We asked Yutaka Shimazaki, ABAJ executive director and a member of the Toyota External & Public Affairs Group, to explain.
ABAJ is a comprehensive automotive organization made up of 166 groups and companies involved in production, sales, maintenance, transportation, and traffic, such as the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the General Insurance Association of Japan, the Petroleum Association of Japan, and the Super Taikyu Mirai Organization.
Collaborating across industries, ABAJ submits proposals and requests to the government, particularly regarding vehicle taxes.
ABAJ all started when its predecessor, the Automobile Association, was founded in November 1945* shortly after the war. The association was established with the strong conviction that the automotive industry would serve as a cornerstone of Japan's postwar development.
*ABAJ itself was established in 1946.
Shimazaki explains that Kiichiro Toyoda, Chairman Akio Toyoda's grandfather, worked ceaselessly to establish the Automobile Association. Chairman Toyoda is expected to demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills as he inherits a vision that has endured for 80 years.
The official decision on Chairman Toyoda's appointment as chairman of ABAJ will be made at the general meeting on June 10.