CarGene
Masahiko Maeda

Masahiko Maeda

ToyotaDevelopment lead

Brought the eighth-generation Hilux back to Japan after 13 years, and later served as Toyota's CTO

Timeline

  1. 1994

    Joined

    Toyota Motor Corporation Powertrain Design Department 1

  2. 2001

    Toyota Motor Corporation Product Planning Department

  3. 2015

    Chief engineer (shusa)

  4. 2016
    Hilux 8th generation
    Hilux 8th generation

    2017–2024Development leadfrom 2016 until 2017

    Worked with

    Dealers with no car to replace it

    The Hilux had ended domestic sales in Japan. Later, a dealer told Maeda that about 9,000 were still in use in Japan, yet there was no car to offer as a replacement, and Maeda began considering a Japanese launch while developing the eighth generation. He wanted a diesel because ranches and farms have diesel tanks, but Japan's emission rules are strict, so a new diesel engine and exhaust system were developed together with the Land Cruiser Prado.

    Can't keep up with the harvest

    On ranches in New Zealand, farmers used to let the old Hilux idle along in 4L first gear while loading the harvest onto the bed. With the seventh generation the same gear was faster, and they asked for help because they couldn't keep up with the harvest. Restoring the gear ratio would hurt fuel economy, so the transmission went from five to six speeds, and the eighth generation was built while being toughened on roads all over the world.

    Chief Engineer

  5. 2018

    Managing OfficerPresident, Emerging-market Compact Car Company

  6. 2020

    Chief Technology Officer

  7. 2022

    Executive Vice President and Executive OfficerDirector

  8. 2024

    Toyota Motor AsiaCEO

Connections

Masahiko Maeda

Masahiko Maeda

    • Kaoru Hosokawa

      Kaoru Hosokawa

      Superior

      Maeda worked on the development of the seventh-generation Hilux under chief engineer Hosokawa.

    Profile

    Graduated from Tohoku University Graduate School, Graduate School of Engineering in 1994. Development lead for the eighth-generation Hilux. After working on the development of the seventh-generation Hilux under chief engineer Kaoru Hosokawa, he took charge of developing the eighth generation and of its reintroduction to the Japanese market after an absence of 13 years.

    Translated from Japanese sources.

    Toyota engineers

    All Toyota engineers