Toyota OKs 1st non-Japanese board member

Toyota shareholders on Friday, gave the go-ahead for Jim Press, head of Toyota’s North American Operations, to become the first non-Japanese to join Toyota’s board of directors. Of course, the move comes after Toyota is climbing the charts in US sales and taking over GM’s number one spot.

Japan, which usually prides itself on its culture, has been iffey of foreigners in management and executive positions. Press, who admires Toyota’s Japanese cultural influence as a key factor of the automaker’s success, has been the perfect figure in the US for...
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EnnNorak - 6/22/2007 11:46:40 PM

+1 Boost

Must be a reward for performance in North America. I wonder if he has the patience to stay on a Japanese board where he will not be as independent as he once was. I have a feeling that Toyota's corporate culture is quite rigid.

AMGC55 - 6/22/2007 12:56:00 PM

-11 Boost

someone has yellow fever

Will_ - 6/22/2007 1:17:39 PM

+5 Boost

...and someone just made a racial slur...

jon21 - 6/22/2007 2:22:30 PM

+5 Boost

amgc55- is a frekin racist.

2JZSoarer - 6/23/2007 1:55:12 AM

+2 Boost

Leave it to a German fan boy to say a stupid thing like that!!!

AMGC55 - 6/22/2007 1:33:20 PM

-11 Boost

its all in good taste.. its good there changing things up a bit bout 2000 years to late but what evs

jon21 - 6/22/2007 2:23:03 PM

+5 Boost

Hi hitler!

rueti - 6/22/2007 3:33:32 PM

+2 Boost

Your first comment being 'cool white dude' tells me that you are judging people based on their skin color, if not being a racist. What would have been your comment if you didn't see his photo?
This is not an issue of 'race' but of tradition, just like NASCAR had some trouble accepting non-American Toyota racing in it. No big deal.

Brembo - 6/22/2007 6:21:07 PM

+1 Boost

You cannot exclude the person skin color or ethnic background when you describe someone.

EX: Would you know who I'm talking about if I just said "That dude." Or is it clearer if I said "That white dude."

All people are diverse. It's ok. But technically white isn't white with many tone; it's like more peach and black is not black but it's more like brown with many tone as well.

One love.

AMGC55 - 6/22/2007 5:00:54 PM

-2 Boost

wow people take things way to seriously.... even a comment coming from an asian

Brembo - 6/22/2007 6:22:25 PM

+2 Boost

I can't help but laugh.

Monk - 6/22/2007 5:26:38 PM

+2 Boost

shhhh it's a spy from GM
he's infilitrated Toyota and try to bring them down

lol jk

EnnNorak - 6/23/2007 9:19:35 AM

-2 Boost

I don't know how this deteriorated into a discussion about racism. I've been to Japan and admire their patience, politeness and ingenuity. The Japanese are among the hardest-working people in the world and deserve full credit for what they have achieved. Having said that however, let's not for get that Japan is an economic adversary and we should always consider buying North-American goods first and look at European and Asian goods only if domestic producers can not or will not meet our specifications.

bevisroy - 6/28/2007 10:17:14 PM

0 Boost

Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....