Hiroyuki Watanabe

Chairman of ITS Japan and Senior Technical Executive

Toyota Motor Corporation

Hiroyuki Watanabe joined Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in 1967 upon completing postgraduate studies in aeronautical engineering at Kyushu University.

In 1989, Dr. Watanabe became the chief engineer responsible for the Toyota Crown, which is the best-selling luxury car in Japan. Named to the Board of Directors in 1996, Dr. Watanabe directed TMC’s research and development work on hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. In 1999, he was made a managing director, and in 2001, a senior managing director. During those years, he was responsible for research and development, product development, environmental affairs, quality control and IT & ITS development and operations.

In June 2005, he became a senior technical executive, and since June 2009, he has been the Chairman for ITS Japan.