TOKYO: Former Toyota head Hiroshi Okuda, credited with championing the pioneering Prius hybrid and turning the Japanese automaker into a global titan, has died aged 93, the firm said on Wednesday (Aug 12).Okuda took the reins of the struggling firm in 1995 as the first person from outside the founding family

As Toyota president from 1995, Okuda championed the development of the Prius, helping bring Toyota’s pioneering petrol-electric hybrid to market.

Funcionário da montadora durante toda sua carreira, foi a primeira pessoa em uma geração a ocupar o cargo sem pertencer à família fundadora da empresa.