He recounted Sakichi's 1925 challenge to create a battery capable of powering an aircraft across the Pacific Ocean, a goal that remains elusive nearly a century later. Toyoda emphasised two key messages from Sakichi's vision: the transformative potential of batteries and the limitless capacity of human ingenuity. Toyoda remarked on Japan's early leadership in lithium-ion battery development and acknowledged the recent rise of Chinese and South Korean companies in the global market. He pointed out that the race for leadership in battery technology is crucial to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Toyota Battery, Toyoda affirmed, would play a vital role in both Toyota's global battery strategy and strengthening Japan's competitiveness in the sector.