• He joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1987. After serving as Chief Engineer at Toyota Center ZC No. 2, Toyota Passenger Car Center No. 2, and Product Planning Division (Emerging Markets) since 2005, he became Executive Vice President, Executive Officer and CTO in 2025, a position he holds to this day.

Preparation and challenges to forge a path to the future

My name is Nakajima, and I have recently been appointed as the president of JSAE. As I take on this important responsibility, I am once again acutely aware of the importance of the role that JSAE must play in this era.

The environment surrounding the automotive industry is currently undergoing transformation at an unprecedented pace. The rapid progress of electrification, exemplified by battery electric vehicles, and the innovation of AI technology that is spreading to every area of ​​society—things that were unimaginable just a few years ago are now becoming a reality. I myself feel a strong sense of crisis and responsibility regarding whether the automotive industry, which supports the Japanese economy, can continue to demonstrate its presence on the world stage.

On the other hand, as symbolized by its declining GDP ranking, Japan's competitiveness and technological capabilities are in a precarious position within the international community. I fear that being bound by past successes and customs has fostered a culture of hesitation to take on challenges and fear of failure, which is hindering technological advancement throughout Japan.

However, the Japanese automotive industry currently employs 550 million people. The fact that this resource-poor country has been able to build an industry that the world can be proud of lies in the history of our predecessors who worked tirelessly on the front lines, bravely embraced change, learned from their failures, and continuously honed their technology.

In times of transition like the present, what is truly needed is for each engineer to adopt the attitude of "preparing thoroughly rather than merely predicting." Here, "preparation" means building upon past learnings while boldly stepping into areas no one has ever experienced before. Even if one fails, it becomes a valuable experience for the next challenge, and accumulating such experiences constitutes solid "preparation" for the future.

The automotive industry will change more dramatically than ever before. It will expand its scope beyond just "cars" for transportation to encompass "mobility," which includes the experiences, services, and social value associated with travel. In order to survive and thrive, it will be essential to actively broaden our technological capabilities into areas we have had little involvement with before, such as AI, communications, semiconductors, and energy.

JSAE is a rare and valuable forum where engineers from diverse fields and positions can freely and openly discuss topics without being constrained by organization or title. As a hub of knowledge connecting companies, universities, and research institutions, it plays a significant role as a place where engineers can learn from each other and prepare for the future.

No matter how difficult the circumstances, I am confident that by working together with all of our members, we can surely forge a path to the future. Our weapon of choice is none other than "technical power." Let us unite and evolve JSAE into a form befitting the next generation.

*From the JSAE journal "Preparation and Challenges for Pioneering the Future," published in June 2026.