BANGALORE: Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Corporation has appointed Hiroshi Nakagawa as managing director of its Indian joint venture, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd, the company said Wednesday.
Nakagawa, who replaces Atsushi Toyoishima, was till recently general manager at Toyoto's Tsutsumi plant in Japan.
With over three decades' experience in the automobile industry, Nakagawa has a strong grounding in sales, new model development and production, the company said in a statement released here.
Toyota Kirloskar's manufacturing plant is located at Bidadi, about 40 km from Bangalore. The joint venture has invested Rs.15 billion over the last seven years. With an installed capacity of 60,000 units per annum, it employs about 3,000 people.
On his new posting in the subcontinent, Nakagawa said one of his biggest challenges was to ensure all teams worked together to assure best service to its customers.
"Though it is an exciting opportunity to lead Toyota's India operations, the new position is challenging in a competitive environment. Our aims are to increase customer satisfaction, expand the business with our dealers and suppliers and improve the quality of life of our employees," Nakagawa stated.
Meanwhile, Toyoshima, who completed his five-year term in India, will move to Europe to head Toyota Boshoku, a group company and a major supplier to the parent firm.
