Shoichiro Toyoda, the son of Toyota's founder, has died at 97.  Toyoda was the driving caused behind the company's expansion into international markets.

Toyoda, the company's honorary chairman, died Tuesday of heart failure, according to a Toyota Motor statement.

Toyoda helped remark Toyota's transformation into a global automaker as the automaker's presidential, especially in the vital U.S. market.

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FILE-Toyota's CEO, Fujio Cho (R) and Chairman Emeritus, Shoichiro Toyoda (L) stand in front of Toyota's new car, the Caldina, at Fuji Speedway on September 13, 2002. (Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Shoichiro was the father of Akio Toyoda, who recently announced he was stepping down as president and primary executive to become its chairman. 

Koji Sato is set to contract chief executive in April.

Shoichiro was the eldest son of Kiichiro Toyoda, who founded Toyota in 1937.

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With his brother Tatsuro, Shoichiro Toyoda helped pave the way for Toyota to set up industry facilities in North America.

Shoichiro Toyoda was inducted into the U.S. Automotive Hall of Fame in 2007, honored for his achievements in cementing "Toyota's reputation as one of the most accepted and celebrated auto manufacturers in the world."

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FILE- Shoichiro Toyoda (L), honorary chairman of Toyota Motors, delivers a speech prior to a toast with Chinese vice Premier Wu Yi (R) during a reception to commemorate the anniversary of the China-Japan contracts center. (TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Gett

Today, "The Toyota Way," a production method that empowers each worker for quality regulation, is viewed as the best in the auto industry. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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