is a Japanese businessman who was formerly honorary chairman of the

Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

. Chō is only the second "outsider" to head Toyota Motor Co. since the members of the founding Toyoda family stepped aside in 1995. He earned a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in law from the

University of Tokyo The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...

in March 1960. Chō joined the

in April 1960. Chō's previous titles include: managing director, senior managing director, vice president, president and vice chairman of the board. He previously worked as president in a subsidiary. Chō has been serving as

chairman of the board The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a Board of directors, board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by ...

and representative director of

from June 2006 to June 2013. Chō has been a strong advocate of environmentally friendly automotive technology, such as the hybrid-electric

Prius The is a Compact car, compact/small family car, small family liftback (supermini/subcompact sedan (car), sedan until 2003) produced by Toyota. The Prius has a Hybrid vehicle drivetrain, hybrid drivetrain, combined with an internal combustion ...

Honors

* Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon (November 2001)Toyota Chairmen: honours and decorations
/ref> * Officer of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

of France (May 2004) * Honorary Knight Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(KBE) (October 2006) * Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Star of Austria (January 2009) * Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...

, 2009. * ''Time'' magazine, 100 most influential people of 2004."Time Names The World's Most Influential People"
. ''

Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

''. April 18, 2004. Retrieved December 12, 2010. "Few people have done more to perfect 'the Toyota Way' than chairman Hiroshi Okuda, 71, and president Fujio Cho, 67, writes Time's Jim Frederick. 'From the very beginning Toyota learned much from other carmakers. Sharing what we have discovered is a way to give back,' says Cho."

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, Fujio 1937 births Living people Toyota people Japanese businesspeople Businesspeople from Dalian People from Aichi Prefecture Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire University of Tokyo alumni Presidents of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association