Akio Toyoda Pays a Visit to the e-Palette Support Team on the Inaugural Event Day
In the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Toyota's team had been working tirelessly to ensure a flawless performance, with a mindset of avoiding mistakes at all costs. However, a visit from Akio Toyoda, the President of Toyota, changed the team's approach.
On the opening day of the Games, Akio Toyoda visited the e-Palette operation site. This was his first time meeting the team members there. In a show of camaraderie, Akio Toyoda stated that they spoke the same language. He expressed his concern for the team members, comparing their experiences to his own struggles in the past.
Akio Toyoda's visit was motivated by his desire to support and check on his team members. Toyota is providing mobility support for the Olympic Games, including 16 e-Palettes at the Olympic Village. Each e-Palette has an onboard safety operator but operates autonomously.
Akio Toyoda emphasized the importance of safety, stating that it's acceptable for incidents like emergency stops to occur. He offered words of encouragement to the team, acknowledging that trouble may occur. His advice seemed to relax the team, who had been preparing with a mindset of avoiding mistakes at all costs.
Despite his busy schedule, Akio Toyoda did not attend the opening ceremony of the Games. Instead, he appeared on the Toyota Times Athletes Now program to cheer on Toyota athletes after his visit to the operational site.
Before visiting the operational site, Akio Toyoda had a PCR test taken in advance to ensure safety. After addressing the team, he left the room, leaving them to handle a small problem that came over the radio.
The name of the leader of the e-Palette operation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, who was visited by Akio Toyoda during the opening ceremony, is not found in the provided search results. However, it is clear that Akio Toyoda considers the team members providing practical support on the genba as his family.
Akio Toyoda's visit and advice served as a reminder to the team that it's not about avoiding mistakes, but about dealing with trouble when it comes. His visit and words of encouragement undoubtedly boosted the team's morale, ensuring they provide the best possible service during the Games.
