Toyota Battery Launch and Global Motor Museum Summit: Preserving Tradition and Enthusiasm
In a grand celebration held in Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of Toyota Group founder Sakichi Toyoda, the 2024 World Forum for Motor Museums took place, marking the first time the event was held in Asia. Approximately 200 participants from 17 countries gathered to commemorate the occasion, with Toyota Battery's inauguration being a significant highlight.
The forum, held at the Toyota Automobile Museum, brought together car enthusiasts, museum curators, and industry leaders to discuss the preservation and promotion of automotive heritage and culture. The event moved to the Fuji Motorsports Museum on its final day.
Chairman Akio Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota's founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, delivered a powerful speech at the ceremony. His address focused on the importance of preserving automotive history while innovating for the future, reflecting on Toyota’s legacy and future role in the industry. Toyoda emphasised the significance of making automobiles a source of pride within Japanese culture, aligning with his vision for the Automobile Business & Culture Association of Japan.
Toyoda also stated that they are the inheritors of Sakichi's dream, paying homage to the founder's strong drive for battery development. In the past, Sakichi offered a prize worth over 10 billion yen for storage battery development. This commitment to innovation is evident in Toyota Battery, a subsidiary of Primearth EV Energy, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota in March.
The inauguration ceremony for Toyota Battery was held on October 1, with Toyota Battery President Masamichi Okada and Mayor Takeshi Kageyama also delivering speeches at the event. The ceremony was followed by a demonstration run of cars, including a historic Toyota vehicle that reporter Yuta Tomikawa had the privilege of riding in.
This gathering of car lovers was one of two stories on the theme of "inheritance" in an episode of Toyota Times News. The event showcased the passion for cars, the preservation of history, and the commitment to innovation that continues to drive the automotive industry in Japan.
Moreover, 14 Japanese automobile manufacturers displayed famous and historic cars at the event, demonstrating the rich car culture in Japan. The World Forum for Motor Museums served as a testament to the importance of preserving automotive history while embracing new technologies and mobility solutions.
The forum's focus on heritage and ongoing advancement in mobility and automotive culture was underscored by Toyoda's appearance, signifying Toyota's commitment to both preserving its past and shaping its future. A video of Chairman Akio Toyoda's speech at the ceremony is available for those who missed the event.
- The World Forum for Motor Museums, held in Kosai City, attracted industry leaders, museum curators, and car enthusiasts, discussing the preservation and promotion of automotive heritage while emphasizing the importance of innovation in the automotive industry.
- Toyota Battery, a subsidiary of Primearth EV Energy, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota, reflecting Toyota's commitment to innovation rooted in the foundation laid by Sakichi Toyoda, who had earlier offered a significant prize for storage battery development.
