SAE Foundation Recognizes Akio Toyoda with the 2025 Industry Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation to be Honored at the SAE Foundation's Annual Celebration May 8, 2025, at M1 Concourse and Event Center in Pontiac, Mich.

WARRENDALE, Pa. (April 7, 2025) - The SAE Foundation is excited to host the 2025 Annual Celebration event on May 8, 2025, at M1 Concourse and Event Center in Pontiac, Mich. Now in its 27^th year, the SAE Foundation Annual Celebration brings together students, teachers, volunteers, and donors to recognize and pay tribute to the career accomplishments and generous spirit of the industry professionals who inspire the next generation of innovators.

Included in this celebration is the presentation of the SAE Foundation Industry Leadership Award. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the mobility industry by achieving a significant amount of success in their STEM careers, demonstrating innovation and risk-taking, establishing a new direction that challenged their industry, and making an impact through philanthropic contributions, community education, or government activities.

Toyota's Transformational Gift to STEM Education

A $1 million gift from Toyota will directly support the implementation of SAE's award-winning A World In Motion® (AWIM®) program for several schools through the Toyota USA Foundation's Driving Possibilities program. AWIM is a proven, hands-on STEM education program that introduces students to real-world engineering concepts, critical thinking, and problem-solving-skills essential for the future mobility workforce. Toyota's commitment ensures that thousands of students will have access to high-quality STEM education opportunities, equipping them with the knowledge and inspiration to become future innovators.

"Toyota's generosity is a game-changer for STEM education," said Jamie Ferguson, executive director, SAE Foundation & STEM Learning. "Through this $1 million commitment, we will bring hands-on, industry-aligned STEM learning experiences to thousands of students across the country, opening doors to future careers in mobility and engineering."

Honoring Akio Toyoda's Leadership in Mobility

The SAE Foundation Industry Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the mobility industry through innovation, risk-taking, and philanthropy. Akio Toyoda's visionary leadership has shaped the future of mobility and reinforced Toyota's dedication to community impact through education.

Akio Toyoda is the grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda and has been instrumental in advancing Toyota's global leadership in mobility. Joining Toyota in 1984, he gained extensive experience across various departments, including production, marketing, and product development. Toyoda served as President and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation from 2009 to 2023, guiding the company through an era of technological transformation and championing electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Now as Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, he continues to lead Toyota's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and workforce development.

"Mr. Toyoda's passion for driving excellence extends beyond the automotive industry-his commitment to education and Toyota's investment in STEM programs like AWIM will leave a lasting impact on students and future engineers," said Ferguson.

CLICK HERE for a list of past winners.

Additional industry leaders and young professionals are also recognized for their contributions to the world of mobility at the event. Lori Gatmaitan will be presented with the Ableson Award for Visionary Leadership, Honda will be presented the Gordon Millar Award, and the Young Industry Leadership Awards will go to Giacomo Belgiorno with DUMAREY Automotive Italia and Amy MacDonald from General Motors.

Industry executives are invited to join the celebration and pay tribute to the career accomplishments and generous spirit of industry professionals who inspire the next generation of innovators. Information on sponsorships and tickets for this prestigious annual event are available at https://www.saefoundation.org/news-events/events/annual-celebration/.

For additional information, contact foundation@sae.org.

About SAE Foundation
The mission of the SAE Foundation is to increase student achievement and participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to build a STEM-fluent workforce. Funds raised by the SAE Foundation support SAE International's award-winning A World In Motion® (AWIM) program, Collegiate Design Series™ (CDS), awards and scholarships. SAE's STEM education programs enable students to develop the 21st century skills needed to succeed in real-world work environments and connect classroom learning with real-life application. SAE's STEM programs have reached more than 6 million students worldwide and engaged more than 30,000 STEM industry professionals as volunteers. Get involved today http://www.saefoundation.org.

About SAE International^®
SAE International^® is a global organization committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including award-winning programs like A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. Learn more at http://www.sae.org.

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SAE Media Contact:
Jeff Laskowski
SAE International
248.925.4770
pr@sae.org