Daniel Smith, who ruled Toyota Argentina over the past 12 years, he has succeeded this automaker’s leader Gustavo Salinasregional commercial director of the brand.

Herrero, also led by Association of Automotive Manufacturers (ADEFA) and the current holders of 58th IDEA Colloquiumwill continue with the company as President of Toyota plan and Coordinator of GAZOO Racing activities, the motorsports team. The change of command will take place in early May.

According to a company statement, Salinas was appointed “in the framework of transforming the vehicle into a mobility services company.” For nearly five years, Toyota has been promoting, in addition to producing and selling vehicles, a parallel business based on mobility services.

The fact is that Herrero, 62, has been in his position as president even longer than usual as a global policy at Toyota, which is up to the age of 60. “The pandemic has stretched the issue of deadlines,” comments of sector resources. .

With very good relations both with the business sector and with government officials and, above all, with the union sectorperformed by Herrero a political dialogue which positioned Toyota as the number one automaker in the country.

In 2019 and 2020, years of very low production within the sector, Toyota accounted for between 45% and 50% of total automotive production. And last year, after the gradual recovery of other automakers, it remained on the production podium, along with 145,000 Hilux and SW4 pick ups were shipped. Currently, Toyota is undergoing an expansion to raise to 167,000 units per year the production of its Zárate plant.

One of the highlights of this performance is the diversity of exports. Although Toyota relies heavily on the Brazilian market, where its vehicles enter without tariffs, it is not an automaker that is “dependent on Brazil”: the Hilux is currently exported to more than 20 countries in the region and , since its launch in 1997, they have already shipped more than a million units.

Salinas, 55, joined Toyota in 1996 and is currently Regional Sales Director for Toyota Latin America and the Caribbean, a position he will continue to hold.

The company statement confirmed that Salinas, in addition to “mobility services” will oversee the “introduction of new technologies environment friendly“. A euphemism referring to the release (so far undated) of a hybrid version of the Hilux pick up.

Herrero’s departure is honorable: Masahiro Inoue, CEO of Toyota Latin America and the Caribbean said Herrero is “recognized as one of the most respected entrepreneurs of his generation.”