Akio Toyoda Pays a Visit to the e-Palette Support Team on the Inauguration Day
In the bustling atmosphere of the Tokyo 2020 Games' opening ceremony, Akio Toyoda, the President of Toyota, took a moment to visit the e-Palette operation.
Before addressing the team, Toyoda shared a few words with each member individually, expressing his empathy for their potential feelings of stress and pressure, having been there himself in the past.
Addressing the team as a whole, Toyoda emphasised the importance of expecting and looking forward to dealing with trouble. He assured them that it's okay for trouble to occur and that they should be prepared for it.
Toyota is providing mobility support for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, including 16 units of e-Palettes at the Olympic Village. Each e-Palette is operated autonomously, with an onboard safety operator ensuring its smooth functioning.
The team, who work around the clock to maintain the e-Palettes, seemed more relaxed after Toyoda's visit and advice. He encouraged them to focus on what they do and to do their best.
Akio Toyoda compared the team members to his family, stating that they are cherished members. He mentioned his past experiences of feeling helpless despite his efforts to bring about change, and expressed his empathy for his colleagues working at the genba.
The operation of the e-Palettes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is managed by a designated team leader or operations manager who takes over when Toyoda is not present.
After his visit, Toyota's President appeared on the Toyota Times Athletes Now program to cheer on Toyota athletes. He had a PCR test taken in advance to visit the operational support site on the opening day of the Games.
In a show of solidarity, Akio Toyoda stated that athletes and those providing practical support on the genba are like family to him. His visit and words of encouragement were a reminder that even in the face of challenges, the team is not alone.
