Toyota's North American CEO moves office to Ann Arbor area technical center

Posted on Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 4:59 p.m.

Toyota's North American CEO moves office to Ann Arbor area technical center

By Ben Freed

Toyota’s North American CEO will be based in Michigan for the first time, according to a report in the Detroit News.

Osamu “Simon” Nagata became CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc. in March.

Osamu “Simon” Nagata, who will lead the Japanese auto manufacturer's engineering and manufacturing efforts in North America, recently bought a home in Novi and will work out of the Toyota Technical Center in York Township near Saline.

Toyota has been increasing activity at its Michigan centers, including the York Township technical center and a facility in Ann Arbor Township. The 2013 Toyota Avalon was entirely designed and engineered in North America with the bulk of the activity happening in Southeast Michigan.

Additionally, the transmission engineering for the company’s all-electric Rav-4 model was done in Michigan. Over the past two years, Toyota has pledged to invest more than $2 billion in its North American Facilities, according to the News’ story.

The Detroit News reported that previous CEOs of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc. have been based at the company’s headquarters near Los Angeles.

Read the full story from the Detroit News.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Get in touch with Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2

Comments

grye

Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.

Having lived in Los Angeles, this is a much better place.

seldon

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 1 p.m.

Maybe, with all these execs in the area, we'll get some good sushi places like there are in Novi and Farmington...

The Infinite Jester

Sun, Jun 30, 2013 : 1:20 a.m.

Novi has a few good places. They have the largest Japanese population in the state if I remember correctly.

The Infinite Jester

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 2:42 a.m.

Welcome to the area!

Lynn Liston

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 1:36 a.m.

Great news for our region!

Fresh Start

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 10:57 p.m.

Domo Arigato Mr. Osamu!

Borbsi

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 4:05 a.m.

Ahem, Mr. Roboto. ( nyuk nyuk )

Linda Peck

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 9:35 p.m.

This is so great.

craigjjs

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 9:10 p.m.

Some people will do anything for U of M football tickets.