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

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.”

Autocar’s Men of the Year

1.          Akio Toyoda                      Toyota president and chief executive
2.          Gerry McGovern              Land Rover design chief
3.          Alan Mulally                      Ford president and chief executive
4.          Adrian Newey                   F1 – Red Bull
5.          Alex Zanardi                      Paraolympian – 2 golds and 2 silvers in 2012
6.          Lord Charles March        Goodwood
7.          Ratan Tata                           Chairman Tata group
8.          Andy Green                        World’s fastest man
9.          Dr Martin Winterkorn     Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen AG
10.          Charles Morgan                 Morgan chairman