Yuji Yokoya studied mechanical engineering at the University of Nagoya and joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1975. At Toyota, he developed suspension and steering systems at the Chassis Engineering Division for 20 years or so. One of the achievements he contributed to was air suspension and active suspension systems they succeeded in mass-producing for the first time in the world.
Later, he worked as chief engineer for models like the Corolla and Sienna. As the director of the Lexus planning division starting in 2003, he directed the Japanese launch of the Lexus brand. When that project was almost done, he was dispatched to Koito, and supervised the technical divisions assisting Mr. Goto, the former vice president, first as managing director and then as senior managing director.
Since last year, he has been directing all R&D activities at Koito as a Vice President.
DVN: In 2010, Mr.Goto told us Koito will produce LED headlamps better than HIDs at the same price in 2015. Do you confirm this prediction two years later?
Yuji Yokoya:The answer is “No”…just kidding! Actually, we’re even ahead of Goto’s forecast. At the time, the task seemed very challenging and some people inside and outside the company doubted its success, but, you know, engineers are a species that feels more motivated and proves itself when it faces challenging tasks. Our mission is to develop what customers need and offer them at the right time and at reasonable prices. What Goto promised was vital to the spread of LED headlamps, so we desperately struggled to accomplish the task and now we expect that the target will be achieved earlier than planned.