Simon Humphries

Operating Officer & Director, Toyota Motor Corp

Search every verified Simon Humphries interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Simon Humphries, Toyota Motor Corporation's Chief Branding Officer and Head of Design, has been active in several public appearances in 2025, primarily focused on product launches and the company's strategic direction. In November 2025, he spoke at an event in Thailand, where he expressed condolences on behalf of Chairman Akio Toyoda for the passing of Queen Siki, the Queen Mother. He described Toyota's partnership with Thailand as a "friendship" that has lasted over 60 years, noting that 14 million vehicles have been produced there. At the event, he announced the ninth-generation Hilux, stating that the vehicle has evolved by listening to customer needs, and reiterated Toyota's commitment to a "multi-pathway approach" to carbon neutrality, arguing that "no two regions are the same and no customer is the same." In April and May 2025, Humphries presented in Brussels, where he discussed the company's "ever better cars" philosophy, which he attributed to Akio Toyoda. He stated that the company's stability allows it to "challenge the future from a position of strength." He outlined the distinct roles of Toyota's three brands, describing Lexus as being about "discovery," GR about "passion," and Toyota about "mobility for all." He also discussed the company's multi-pathway powertrain strategy, acknowledging that "there is still no single answer" and that the strategy is about being ready to address regional needs. He highlighted the improved BZ4X, noting that after initial launch issues, the company applied "kaizen" (continuous improvement) and that the vehicle is currently number one in sales in Norway. In a separate interview, Humphries stated that he believes each car should be "an honest representation of its specific concept or the value to the customer," rather than enforcing a consistent design language across all models.