Despite challenges, Toyota Europe boss confident in setting new sales targets

Matthew Harrison was named president and CEO of Toyota Europe in March, succeeding Johan van Zyl, who died unexpectedly after a short illness on July 30. He took charge of the automaker's business in the region after a year marked by COVID-19 restrictions, and amid a semiconductor shortage that hampered production. Despite those challenges, sales of Toyota's hybrid-dominated lineup remained strong. With new models in the pipeline, Harrison says he feels confident enough to increase sales targets for 2021 and 2025. Harrison, a former 2020 Automotive News Europe Eurostar, spoke to ANE Associate Publisher and Editor Luca Ciferri and News Editor Peter Sigal about why Toyota Europe will not only survive, but thrive, in a time of transformational change.