From his days overseeing U.S. sales, Press is credited for insisting that executives in Japan provide vehicles more suited to American tastes rather than those designed for narrow roads in Japan.

"He was a genius when it came to product," said Bob Loquercio, an Elgin Toyota dealer. "He Americanized the lineup. His strength is that he tells Toyota what it needs to hear and gets the product the customer and dealer wants from them. He has a vision of where the market is today and where it's going in the future and is able to communicate that to his partners in Japan."

Those vehicles include the full-size pickups soon to be built in Texas and vans with popular items such as power-sliding doors and cupholders, features absent from those created in Japan and briefly sold here.

You can also add the gas/electric Prius, the mini Yaris and the entry-level Scion division to the notches Press has put on his belt in his 30 years with the company.