Hiroshi Inoue, Founder and CEO
Biography
⚫︎1993.3. Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering
⚫︎1995.3. Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering
⚫︎1995.4~2019.3. Toyota Motor Corporation
・1995.7~2001.12. Engineer, Chassis Engineering Department, Engineer
・2002.1~2010.9. Manager, Cost Planning Department
(2007.1~2009.12 assignment to North American affiliate)
・2010.10~2019.3 Manager, Lexus Int. Z (product Planning Division)
⚫︎2019.4~2021.7 GROOVE X
Hardware Product Owner
⚫︎2021.8~2024.3 Changan Automobile
・2021.8~2022.11 Vice President, Product Planning Division
・2022.11~2024.1 Overseas Market Director, Product Planning Division
・2024.1~2024.3 Special Expert, Product Planning Division
⚫︎2024.4~2024.5 Freelance
Automotive and manufacturing industry consulting
⚫︎2024.5~2024.11 Air Beans Co., Ltd.
Founder and CEO
⚫︎2024.12~2025.7 Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd.
Strategic Planning Chief Engineer
⚫︎2025.7~Present Air Beans Co., Ltd.
Founder and CEO
⚫︎2025.7~Present Ohyama Consulting Research, LLC.
Advisor
https://www.ohyama.nagoya/
⚫︎2025.8~Present Leaner Technologies Inc.
Advisor
https://leaner.co.jp/
Yukihiko Yaguchi, Special Advisor
⚫︎Former Toyota Motor Corporation executive; Representative of Office F.Regulus
⚫︎Development leader for Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) of the first-generation Lexus LS400, recognized as one of the quietest production vehicles in the world
⚫︎Led product planning and performance development review for vehicles including the Toyota Chaser, Progrès, and Century
⚫︎Established the Lexus Planning Division and formulated the Lexus brand strategy
⚫︎Member of the corporate Toyota & Lexus Brand Strategy Team, proposing brand strategies directly to top management
⚫︎Established the Lexus Center and led the execution of the Lexus brand strategy
⚫︎Founded the Lexus F performance sub-brand and served as the development executive responsible for the IS F, RC F, and GS F
Junzo Ukai, Special Advisor
⚫︎Former Toyota Motor Corporation executive; Representative Member of Ukai Corporation LLC
⚫︎Visiting Professor at Nagoya University, promoting industry–academia–government collaboration and mobility research
⚫︎Executive MBA (E-MBA), University of Michigan (Class of 2003, First Cohort), TOEIC Score: 910
⚫︎Developed 13 new materials, including interior/exterior and polyurethane materials; led the development of Lexus interior materials and VOC reduction initiatives
⚫︎Served as General Manager of Toyota Motor North America R&D, leading Camry development and the establishment of the research center
⚫︎Directed next-generation technology development in hybrid vehicles (HV), fuel cells (FC), and quality engineering
⚫︎Led company-wide strategic initiatives, including rare-earth countermeasures and Business Continuity Management (BCM)
⚫︎Drove new business development at Admatechs Co., Ltd.
Nobuyuki Shigeoka, Special Advisor
⚫︎Former Toyota Motor Corporation engineer; Representative of DQC
⚫︎Engaged in vehicle and component evaluation, and development of Technical Standards (TS) in the Vehicle Testing Division
⚫︎Led vehicle development as a Body Design Engineer and Chief Engineer for functional body components
⚫︎Assigned to Toyota Technical Center (TTC), North America for three years, gaining extensive global vehicle development experience
⚫︎Served as the in-house leader for DRBFM, RSAM, and SSA in Toyota’s Design Quality Improvement Division (DQI), promoting company-wide design quality enhancement
⚫︎Founded DQC in November 2024, providing consulting services in automotive product development, design engineering, design quality, DRBFM implementation, and development process improvement
Yujiro Kaji, Special Advisor
⚫︎Former Toyota Motor Corporation executive; Representative of Guangzhou Suichuang Automotive Technology Services Co., Ltd.
⚫︎Holds a Master’s degree in Science and Engineering from the University of Tsukuba
⚫︎Over 30 years of experience in vehicle body design and development
⚫︎Seconded to Toyota Motor Europe (Belgium), where he led vehicle body development for the European market
⚫︎Served as General Manager of vehicle body development for global strategic models, including the Corolla, Prius, C-HR, and Lexus UX
⚫︎Served as Section Manager at GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (GTMC), leading vehicle body development and engineering organization development for the Chinese market
⚫︎Provides consulting services in vehicle body engineering, quality improvement, cost competitiveness, and engineering talent development
Shigematsu, Technical Advisor
⚫︎Former member of the Vehicle Body Engineering Division, Toyota Motor Corporation
⚫︎Holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Kyushu University
⚫︎Specialized in aerospace engineering and participated in the research and development of artificial satellites
⚫︎Over 20 years of experience in vehicle and body engineering
⚫︎Led global vehicle development initiatives, including North American production projects and overseas plant start-ups
⚫︎Contributed to next-generation mobility development, including TNGA planning, hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and commercial CASE initiatives
⚫︎Advanced mass-production vehicle development through expertise in vehicle engineering, product planning, and cost planning
Yukinori Machida, Legal Advisor
⚫︎Attorney-at-Law (Japan) / Attorney-at-Law (California, USA)
⚫︎Mesotes Law Office
⚫︎LL.B., The University of Tokyo
⚫︎LL.M., University of Southern California
Norikatsu Ohashi, Tax Advisor
⚫︎Certified Public Tax Accountant (Japan)
⚫︎Representative, Norikatsu Ohashi Tax Accounting Office
⚫︎B.A. in Commerce, Keio University
⚫︎LL.B., Keio University