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Toyota Connected India celebrated its 15th Anniversary in May 2026, marking a decade and a half of creatively solving some complex challenges in the connected mobility space and finding innovative ways deliver elevated customer experiences. At the heart of the celebration was a simple focus: Gratitude for the people who powered this progress. From employees, past and present, to partners and teams across the global Toyota ecosystem, and the customers who continue to inspire us, every voice has played a part in shaping TCIN’s journey.
The celebration opened with the 15 Years of Progress brand video—bringing to life where we started, how far we’ve come, and what continues to drive us forward.
Highlights From Our Leadership Address
We were honored to host senior leaders from the Toyota Connected entities for our 15th anniversary celebration.
Makoto Ito-san, Managing Director, TCJP delivered a Keynote Address where he reflected on TCIN’s journey from its “Gazoo” roots to a steadily growing organization shaped by collective effort, Kaizen, and IT-driven transformation.
“In Japanese culture, there is a long-standing custom of ‘tightening the laces’ before important moments. This is more than simple preparation. It’s a ritual to steady both mind and body, and to reaffirm firm determination. Even small, deliberate actions carry the intent to move forward, and when they come together, they can take us further than we imagine.”
He positioned the 15-year milestone as a new starting point, urging the team to carry forward the values of credibility and trust, and to move into the next phase with renewed focus, humility, and shared responsibility of upholding the Toyota name.
Kohei Naganuma-san’s, Managing Director, TCIN, reflected on TCIN’s journey with deep gratitude for the people who have built it and how we continue to shape its future. He emphasized that our strength lies in combining technical capability with empathy and customer-centric thinking, ensuring that every solution delivers meaningful value in people’s lives. He shares how TCIN plays an important role in shaping the future of mobility by working closely with teams across regions and encouraging the team to take pride in what they are building together and to step into the future with larger ambitions and a shared sense of purpose.
GK Senthil, CEO, Toyota Connected India led the Anniversary Address with a strong sense of pride, highlighting how the organization has grown not just in scale, but in character.
“This milestone is as much about who we have become as it is about what we have built— grounded in a culture of transparency, integrity, and the freedom to execute.”
Looking ahead, his message turned to what will define TCIN’s next phase. He emphasized that culture will continue to be the foundation for everything the organization builds— guiding how teams collaborate, make decisions, and create value and impact. The focus now is on continuing to build thoughtfully, stay grounded in our shared values, being ready to evolve with the changing times, and move forward together with confidence.
Video Messages from Our Global Collaborators
Messages from various leaders and team members across TCJP, TMNA, and TCNA were also received with great warmth, serving as a reminder of the strong relationships and shared journey we’ve built over the years. Their continued support and collaboration have played a meaningful role in shaping TCIN’s growth, making their presence in this celebration (albeit virtually) especially significant.
Celebrating Our Veteran Employees
The event also marked a special moment for three TCIN team members who completed 15 years with the organization this year. Having joined a small team of six in 2011, they have witnessed and contributed to TCIN’s remarkable growth into a 310+ strong organization today.
In their reflections, they shared personal journeys that closely mirror TCIN’s own, shaped by continuous improvement, evolving roles, and a consistent focus on delivering customer happiness over the years.
Unveiling The TC Culture Book
As part of this milestone celebration, TCIN also unveiled the Toyota Connected Culture Book to the India team.
Frank Okoisor, Executive Chairman, Toyota Connected Europe and Global Deputy Chief People Officer, Toyota Connected joined us in person for the celebration and launched this important initiative.
In his address, he highlighted the evolution of Toyota Connected into a growing global organization, shaped by years of collective effort across regions. He shared that the TC Culture Book is a way to bring this journey together, creating a shared language and alignment across all Toyota Connected entities. Emphasizing the need for a common ‘red thread’ linking Toyota philosophy, global values, and regional practices, he introduced three focus values: Fuel the Future, Begin Boldly, and Connect Beyond to guide how teams innovate, collaborate, and grow across the group companies.
Building on this global culture vision, Pradeepa Ravindran, Chief People Officer, TCIN brought the focus closer to home and what this Global Culture Book means for India. She spoke about how culture at TCIN has always been one of our strongest foundations, rooted in a strong sense of belonging and connection.
The TC Culture Book, as Pradeepa pointed out, will strengthen our local identity, bringing together Toyota’s timeless values and Toyota Connected’s spirit of innovation with TCIN’s own ways of working. In doing so, it will create a clearer sense of direction and purpose, helping global Toyota Connected teams to stay aligned in how they think, collaborate, and grow, while ensuring that the culture continues to feel lived, local, and meaningful in the way it comes alive at TCIN.
Inventing The Path Forward, Together
These 15 years are just the beginning.
Rooted in Toyota’s philosophy and strengthened by a shared culture across the global Toyota ecosystem, we step into our next chapter with clarity and confidence, continuing to invent the path forward together. With every idea, every collaboration, and every small step, we will keep pushing boundaries, learning, and creating value for customers— shaping a more connected future, together.
