Toyota picks Susan Elkington for new EV role; Mike Sweers to lead R&D

In her new role, Elkington “will be responsible for accelerating the company’s electrified transformation, with a focus on battery and electric vehicle production and supply strategy,” the automaker said. Elkington was named one of the Automotive News 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry in 2020. She will report to Takefumi Shiga, Toyota Motor North America’s executive vice president of engineering and manufacturing.

Toyota promoted Kerry Creech, vice president of manufacturing at Georgetown Assembly, to succeed Elkington as president of the plant. In May, Toyota said it would begin assembling a new three-row electric crossover at the Kentucky factory beginning in 2025.

Sweers, who has been senior vice president of the product development office and global truck executive chief engineer, will also assume his new roles Monday. As executive vice president for R&D and chief technology officer, Sweers will report to Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. He succeeds Shinichi Yasui, who returned to Japan to become chief project leader, hydrogen factory at Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota also said that Chris Nielsen, executive vice president for product support and chief quality officer, would assume responsibility for purchasing and supplier development in North America, effective Monday. Bob Young, Toyota’s group vice president for purchasing supplier development, will report to Nielsen.