Meet Toshihiro Iwasaki | CEO, Phiaro Inc. and Concept Car Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toshihiro Iwasaki and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toshihiro, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Always pushing the envelope, for timeless quality, with the right team playing to their strengths.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve found that before I could be effective in this industry, I had to understand the fundamentals of building models at any scale, and what it really takes for a team of builders to assemble and paint them. Once I had that foundation, I studied vehicle design and UIUX. I’m always thinking about how I can bring in new ideas, to challenge myself and my colleagues. We all have a lot of fond memories overcoming challenges and complications. I think the greatest key to achieving this is ensuring that we stay in regular contact with one another, and that we always communicate in good faith. Communicating effectively is often a struggle for many people, so I’ve told myself that it’s always important to always approach people honestly and earnestly. I’ve found that this makes interactions fun and above all, constructive.
Other than that, I take on problems one at a time, tackling hard problems head-on. I know I’ll be doing that every day for the foreseeable future. Such is life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Let’s start in LA. I’d take my buddy to the Petersen Museum and see their exhibit on the history of the electric vehicle. They also have videos of classic cars, which I always have a blast watching. If we have time we’ll swing by the California Science Center and take in the exhibit of Space Shuttle Endeavour. Then we’ll take the I-405 south, and drop by the Porsche Experience Center. It’s right next to the interchange with the I-110, and there’s all kinds of activities available there like test driving the latest models. Be careful, you might become hooked onto the power and stability of the Porsche.
The Anaheim area further south is a massive entertainment center. There are Star Wars attractions in Disneyland that every Jedi and Sith should visit, and the Cars area is fun for kids of any age. The nearby Packing District, a former Sunkist canning facility transformed into an open food court, is always packed with young people, and is home to a diverse set of food cultures that have made this region their home. We can’t forget a night ballgame at Angels Stadium where we can watch 2021 American League MVP Shohei “Shotime” Ohtani, who I’m sure will continue to make history with his skills and his positive attitude.
A little further south into Costa Mesa, and there’s the massive South Coast Plaza mall where we can just take a stroll and browse the shops for hours. Or we could change things up and go to the SOCO and the OC Mix, which is a smaller, open mall with great little shops and restaurants. I love the smaller mall because it feels like it’s packed with the fashionable culture of Orange County.
Laguna Beach is a great place to enjoy great seafood and wine while watching a glorious sunset.
On weekends, I enjoy taking a drive on the Ortega Highway to Lake Elsinore and back. The first half is a thrilling climb that invites the need for speed, and the switchbacks on the rest of the highway present a different thrill. I also love strolling through the Cars and Coffee event in San Clemente, taking in classic cars and innovative new vehicles alike with good coffee in hand.
I’ve enjoyed surfing and camping with friends at the state beaches in the region. There’s nothing more refreshing than grilled food and a roaring campfire with friends under the stars, and best of all, this is one of the more affordable camping options in the state.
This is just a small sampling of what I believe is representative of the culture and the natural wonders of the greater Los Angeles area, and I invite anyone, from thrill-seekers to those who want a place to chill, to come enjoy them as much as I have.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out to several people, in fact. First, the automakers who always challenge our limits. In the past 10 years, we’ve seen a big wave of
electrification in the automotive industry, a push to demonstrate electric mobility from the concept
stage forward and the unveiling of amazing new vehicles at global events like CES in addition to auto
shows. Being able to experience all of this has been transformative for us.
We can’t forget the startups we worked with during this time, many of whom are in California like us,
nor can we forget the connections we’ve made with the design industry.
And most of all, I firmly believe that none of this would have been possible without the free exchange of
ideas and the business-friendly environment of the United States.

Website: www.phiaroinc.com

Instagram: @phiaro.inc

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/phiaro-incorporated/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/phiaroinc/

Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEcgSXy2My5Wcu6Q-GeMnA