Toyota Takes a Road Trip Through History

Let’s Go Places Black History Tour Culminates with Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

 From Atlanta to Selma to Meridian and Jackson, Toyota hosted another “Let’s Go Places Black History Tour” to historical African American sites, culminating with the grand opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
 
Toyota sponsored the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s 2 Mississippi Museums project, helping to advance programming at the Museum of Mississippi History and creating the Toyota Gallery at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. The Toyota Gallery contains seven thematic galleries encircling a central gallery.
 
“We are proud to partner with the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and welcome the opportunities it brings to foster a spirit of diversity and inclusion,” said Adrienne Trimble, general manager, Diversity & Inclusion, Toyota Motor North America.
 
Along with the Museums, Toyota and the department also partnered on a traveling exhibition to educate youth in the region.Toyota has a manufacturing plant in Blue Springs where Corollas are built.
 
“We are helping to preserve and celebrate history throughout the country, supporting a range of activities that educate and inspire, aligning with our philosophy of respect for people and our longstanding commitment to our communities,” added Trimble.

Toyota is a founding sponsor of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., a supporter of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and, for more than a decade, has sponsored The HistoryMakers--the nation’s largest collection of African American video and oral history.

Prior to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opening, Toyota hosted several journalists on a road trip to visit the region’s historical African American sites. Stops included:
 

• The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta, Ga., serves as a cultural attraction that helps visitors explore how the American Civil Rights Movement links to the Global Human Rights Movement.
• National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Ala., a one-of-a-kind museum in the world that pays homage to people who courageously battled for the right to vote.
• The Civil Rights Trail in Meridian, Miss., provides a path for people to walk and learn about the tumultuous events that helped shape the civil rights movement in that city.

 
“These historical sites help showcase the many contributions African Americans have made to the rich tapestry of America. It’s important that we maintain them so that we can visit and discover our history,” concluded Trimble. 

Toyota Aims for Sales of More Than 5.5 Million Electrified Vehicles Including 1 Million Zero-Emission Vehicles per Year by 2030

Electrified vehicles to be available across the entire Toyota and Lexus line-up by around 2025

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announces today its plans toward the popularization of electrified vehicles for the decade 2020-2030. Toyota's electrified vehicle strategy centers on a significant acceleration in the development and launch plans of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Toyota has been working toward creating ever-better cars and an ever-better society under the thinking of contributing to a sustainable society and creating mobility that brings smiles to customers. Addressing environmental challenges, such as global warming, air pollution, and limited natural resources and energy supply are of utmost importance to Toyota. "Environment" is one of the anchors of the company's product development, alongside "safety/peace of mind" and "emotion." Electrified vehicles, which are effective for economical consumption of fuel and promoting usage of alternative fuels, are indispensable in helping to solve current environmental issues. In October 2015, Toyota launched the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, which aims to reduce the negative impact of manufacturing and driving vehicles as much as possible and contribute to realizing a sustainable society. In the ever-better cars category, Toyota aims to reduce global average new-vehicle CO2 emissions by 90 percent from 2010 levels. Today's announcement is the main pillar of a mid-to-long-term initiative to achieve this challenge.

Electrification across the entire Toyota and Lexus line-up

• By around 2030, Toyota aims to have sales of more than 5.5 million electrified vehicles, including more than 1 million zero-emission vehicles (BEVs, FCEVs).
• Additionally, by around 2025, every model in the Toyota and Lexus line-up around the world will be available either as a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option. This will be achieved by increasing the number of dedicated HEV, PHEV, BEV, and FCEV models and by generalizing the availability of HEV, PHEV and/or BEV options to all its models.
• As a result, the number of models developed without an electrified version will be zero.

Zero-emission Vehicles

• Toyota will accelerate the popularization of BEVs with more than 10 BEV models to be available worldwide by the early 2020s, starting in China, before entering other markets―the gradual introduction to Japan, India, United States and Europe is expected.
• The FCEV line-up will be expanded for both passenger and commercial vehicles in the 2020s.

Hybrid Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

• The HEV line-up will also grow, thanks to the further development of the Toyota Hybrid System II (featured in the current-generation Prius and other models); the introduction of a more powerful version in some models; and the development of simpler hybrid systems in select models, as appropriate, to meet various customer needs.
• Toyota also aims to expand its PHEV line-up in the 2020s.

Batteries are a core technology of electrified vehicles and generally present limitations relating to energy density, weight/packaging, and cost. Toyota has been actively developing next-generation solid-state batteries and aims to commercialize the technology by the early 2020s. In addition, Toyota and Panasonic will start a feasibility study on a joint automotive prismatic battery business in order to achieve the best automotive prismatic battery in the industry and to ultimately contribute to the popularization of Toyota's and other automakers' electrified vehicles.

Furthermore, Toyota aims to focus on the development of a social infrastructure conducive to the widespread adoption of electrified vehicles. This includes the creation of a system to help streamline battery reuse and recycling, as well as support of the promotion of plug-in vehicle charging stations and hydrogen refueling stations through active cooperation and collaboration with government authorities and partner companies.

Toyota has been a leader in making vehicles while keeping the environment in mind. This is evident through the introduction of the iconic Prius 20 years ago, as well as the launch of the world's first PHEV, the Prius PHV, in 2012. The second-generation Prius PHV, introduced in 2017, further increased the vehicle's electric mode cruising range. Additionally, in 2014 Toyota launched the world's first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, the Mirai, which is being well-received by customers in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. Through these activities, Toyota sales of electrified vehicles have reached more than 11 million units worldwide to date.

Toyotathon is On! Open New Year's Day!

Take advantage of Toyotathon at Burien Toyota this holiday weekend! Toyota of Burien will be open on New Year's Day, 10am-7pm.

What kind of deals can you get?

• 2017 Toyota Sienna for $33,000
• 2017 Toyota SuperNova for $30,000
• 2017 Toyota Prius for $26,000
• 2018 Toyota Camry XLE for $36,000

And more! Toyotathon ends January 2, so stop by Burien Toyota today!

10 Years and One Million Corollas Strong

Nov. 2007... our first team member was hired; Nov. 2011... our first Corolla was built; Nov. 2017... our first decade was celebrated; today... our one millionth Mississippi-build Toyota Corolla rolled off the line.
 
Just weeks after Toyota Mississippi treated North Mississippi to a free concert to say thanks for 10 years, team members cheered today as the one-millionth Corolla was driven off the production line.
 
“To think this all started with one – one team member, one team, one car, and now the one millionth Corolla is rolling off our line – is incredible,” stated Sean Suggs, vice president of manufacturing. “This is another feather in the cap of Toyota’s 1,500 team members who come together each day to produce ever-better Corollas. Our team members are the foundation of our success.”
 
From the first team member hired to the first car built to the one millionth car built, Toyota’s first decade in Mississippi has been a great ride.

Aaron Foster, Toyota general manager, and one of the original team members hired at Toyota Mississippi, said, “I was excited to join Toyota in my home state 10 years ago. One million Corollas later, I am proud to be a part of this great team.”

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and about 85 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.  

Toyota Earns a Total of Eleven IIHS 2018 Awards

Toyota Leads Industry with Most Vehicles on 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK List

A total of eleven Toyota and Lexus vehicles are 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award winners, with the new 2018 Camry receiving its highest award, the TOP SAFETY PICK+.
 
According to IIHS, the TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ requirements were strengthened for 2018 and the majority of winners qualify only when optionally equipped, with the exception being Toyota. Toyota has equipped all but a handful of Toyota and Lexus models with standard autobrake and other advanced features. Seven models with standard autobrake also have standard acceptable or good headlights and qualify for TSP without any added options.
 
“We’re pleased to have so many vehicles recognized by IIHS, especially with the completely redesigned 2018 Camry receiving its highest safety award. Toyota and Lexus remain committed to providing safe and reliable vehicles and we’re proud to have Toyota Safety Sense and Lexus Safety System+ as standard equipment on almost every new model in our lineup,” said Chris Nielsen, executive vice president of product support and chief quality officer of Toyota Motor North America.
 
To qualify for a 2018 TSP award, vehicles must have Good ratings in driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as Advanced or Superior rating for front crash prevention, and an Acceptable or Good headlight rating.
 
2018 TSP+ award winners were required to earn Good ratings in driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as Acceptable or Good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test, Advanced or Superior rating for front crash prevention, and a Good headlight rating.
 
Toyota and Lexus 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ winner:
·     Toyota Camry with specific headlights
 
Toyota and Lexus 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK winners:
·     Toyota Avalon with specific headlights
·     Toyota Corolla
·     Toyota Prius
·     Toyota Prius Prime
·     Toyota RAV4 with specific headlights
·     Toyota Highlander
·     Lexus ES with specific headlights
·     Lexus IS
·     Lexus NX
·     Lexus RX with specific headlights

Newsweek Names Toyota World’s Greenest Automaker

Newsweek has once again named Toyota one of the world’s greenest companies, scoring in the top 5% of global companies, and was named the “Best in Industry Global” in the automobiles category. Toyota was ranked #16 of the Global 500 greenest companies and #1 in the automobile category.

The award recognizes Toyota for its track record of sustainability achievements and for its eco-sensitive hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, and places the world’s largest automaker ahead of such respected companies as Apple, Starbucks and Nike. This year’s score improves upon Toyota’s past performance on the ranking, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to green initiatives.

 “Toyota is proud to be recognized by Newsweek as the world’s top green automaker and as a leader among global companies,” said Jim Lentz, chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America. “We are continually working to develop and improve technologies for our operations and vehicles. Our aim is to reduce the impact on the environment, while maintaining affordability for our customers, and position our company as an industry leader in sustainable mobility.”

The annual Newsweek Green Rankings evaluate the world’s largest publicly traded companies, using eight metrics to measure environmental performance. Newsweek, in partnership with Corporate Knights and HIP Investor, scores companies against their industry peers on each metric, including energy, water and waste levels. The full Newsweek Green Rankings list is available now on Newsweek’s website at http://www.newsweek.com/green-rankings-2017-18.

Toyota Financial Services Extends Payment Relief Program to Customers Affected by Latest Round of California Wildfires

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) announced today that it is offering payment relief options to its customers affected by the recent southern California wildfires. This broad outreach includes all Toyota Financial Services (TFS) or Lexus Financial Services (LFS) customers in the designated disaster areas and follows the company’s recent payment relief programs for customers affected by the devastating California wildfires of just a few months ago as well as Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. 
 
Toyota Financial Services cares about the safety and well-being of its customers and wants to help those affected by the fires. Lease and finance customers residing in the devastated areas may be eligible to take advantage of several payment relief options, some of which include:

• extensions or deferred payments 
• redirecting billing statements
• arranging phone or online payments

Toyota Financial Services will proactively attempt to contact customers in the affected areas to assess their needs and inform customers of the options available to them. 
 
Customers who would like to discuss their account options are encouraged to contact TFS or LFS:
 
Toyota Financial Services customers may call (800) 874-8822 or contact TFS via email using the Mail Center function after logging into ToyotaFinancial.com.
 
Lexus Financial Services customers may call 800-874-7050 or contact LFS via email using the Mail Center function after logging into LexusFinancial.com.
 
We extend our heartfelt thoughts to those affected by the natural disaster.  

Toyota Leads Industry, Earns a Total of Eleven IIHS 2018 Awards

Toyota Leads Industry with Most Vehicles on 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK List

A total of eleven Toyota and Lexus vehicles are 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award winners, with the new 2018 Camry receiving its highest award, the TOP SAFETY PICK+.
 
According to IIHS, the TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ requirements were strengthened for 2018 and the majority of winners qualify only when optionally equipped, with the exception being Toyota. Toyota has equipped all but a handful of Toyota and Lexus models with standard autobrake and other advanced features. Seven models with standard autobrake also have standard acceptable or good headlights and qualify for TSP without any added options.
 
“We’re pleased to have so many vehicles recognized by IIHS, especially with the completely redesigned 2018 Camry receiving its highest safety award. Toyota and Lexus remain committed to providing safe and reliable vehicles and we’re proud to have Toyota Safety Sense and Lexus Safety System+ as standard equipment on almost every new model in our lineup,” said Chris Nielsen, executive vice president of product support and chief quality officer of Toyota Motor North America.
 
To qualify for a 2018 TSP award, vehicles must have Good ratings in driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as Advanced or Superior rating for front crash prevention, and an Acceptable or Good headlight rating.
 
2018 TSP+ award winners were required to earn Good ratings in driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as Acceptable or Good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test, Advanced or Superior rating for front crash prevention, and a Good headlight rating.
 
Toyota and Lexus 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ winner:
·     Toyota Camry with specific headlights
 
Toyota and Lexus 2018 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK winners:
·     Toyota Avalon with specific headlights
·     Toyota Corolla
·     Toyota Prius
·     Toyota Prius Prime
·     Toyota RAV4 with specific headlights
·     Toyota Highlander
·     Lexus ES with specific headlights
·     Lexus IS
·     Lexus NX
·     Lexus RX with specific headlights

Toyotathon Makes TV History With First :100 Second Commercial

A multi-generational family explores nostalgia and togetherness in new holiday spot “R+S”

Toyotathon is back for its 38th year with a 100-second holiday commercial, a first in the broadcast industry, that showcases a family’s multigenerational story. “R+S” premiered Tuesday night, November 28, on NBC during “The Voice” in an isolated pod, with no other advertising or promotional spots surrounding it. This 100-second spot comes at a time when most networks are reducing commercial time. 
 
"The Winter holiday season seems to get longer every year with retail advertising starting earlier than the year before. Of course we have retail ads just like our competitors, but we believe it's also important to remind customers of the true meaning of the holiday season." noted Ed Laukes, group vice president, Toyota Marketing, Toyota Motor North America.  "Through proprietary research, we identified a way to break through the clutter with an emotional message and resonate with consumers. In addition, the :100-second spot was shot in a style similar to This is Us, and because the ad has context, we believe the relevance will increase the impact of the spot given it will air in an isolated pod between The Voice and This is Us."
 
“The natural connection with Toyota’s new creative and such a powerful night of family viewing illustrates the power of contextual messaging which still reigns king,” said Linda Yaccarino, Chairman, Advertising Sales and Client Partnerships, NBC Universal. “Engaging, emotional creative combined with the unparalleled environment of television is the ultimate platform for a marketer to reach audiences at scale and enhance the consumer experience.”
 
“R+S” unfolds like a film as it tells a family’s multigenerational story using a much loved family tree as the centerpiece. The narrative starts with the grandparents as a young couple and the tree bears their initials, “R+S.” The story continues decades later after the tree has fallen from natural causes. During the holiday season the  grandparents visit their daughter’s home to find a framed picture of themselves as a young couple in front of their special tree. As the rest of the family hides in anticipation, they see the inscription of their initials “R+S” on the table and quickly realize its their beloved tree.
 
The spot features a real family of actors including grandparents, their daughter and her husband and children. The director, award-winning cinematographer, Lance Acord, filmed in central California and cast a family from the same area. “The story comes to life because it represents real families. The central point of the narrative, the tree, is also a metaphor for life and the underlying theme of a matriarch passing on the torch from one generation to the next,” said director Lance Acord.  
 
Acord directed the spot in a way that makes the viewer re-experience the holidays from another family’s lens and carries that emotion with them to their own family festivities. Fostering the true meaning of the holidays, togetherness, Toyota tugs at the viewer's heartstrings by focusing on the family’s story to create a relatable, emotional experience during the hectic holiday season.
 
“R+S” premiered on NBC with the special 100-second airing before moving to top theaters nationwide for in-cinema play in National CineMedia (NCM)’s Noovie pre-show on over 20,600 movie screens from December 1-28. A mix of :30 and :60 versions of “R+S” will air on television December 10-24. The Toyotathon December Sales Event offers incentives through January 2. View the “R+S” :100-second spot here.

Toyota to Build the World's First Megawatt-scale 100% Renewable Power and Hydrogen Generation Station

Tri-Gen will generate on-site hydrogen to supply Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicles, including Project Portal Heavy-Duty Truck Concept
 
Toyota Logistics Services at the Long Beach Port will become first Toyota facility in North America to use 100% Renewable Power

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) will build the world’s first megawatt-scale carbonate fuel cell power generation plant with a hydrogen fueling station to support its operations at the Port of Long Beach. Announced today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Tri-Gen facility will use bio-waste sourced from California agricultural waste to generate water, electricity and hydrogen.

 
When it comes online in 2020, Tri-Gen will generate approximately 2.35 megawatts of electricity and 1.2 tons of hydrogen per day, enough to power the equivalent of about 2,350 average-sized homes and meet the daily driving needs of nearly 1,500 vehicles. The power generation facility will be 100% renewable, supplying Toyota Logistics Services’ (TLS) operations at the Port and making them the first Toyota facility in North America to use 100% renewable power.
 
“For more than twenty years, Toyota has been leading the development of fuel cell technology because we understand the tremendous potential to reduce emissions and improve society,” said Doug Murtha, group vice president- Strategic Planning. “Tri-Gen is a major step forward for sustainable mobility and a key accomplishment of our 2050 Environmental Challenge to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from our operations.”
 
Tri-Gen is a key step forward in Toyota’s work to develop a hydrogen society. In addition to serving as a key proof-of-concept for 100% renewable, local hydrogen generation at scale, the facility will supply all Toyota fuel cell vehicles moving through the Port, including new deliveries of the Mirai sedan and Toyota’s Heavy Duty hydrogen fuel cell class 8 truck, known as Project Portal. To support these refueling operations, Toyota has also built one of the largest hydrogen fueling stations in the world on-site with the help of Air Liquide.

Tri-Gen has been developed by FuelCell Energy with the support of the US Department of Energy, California agencies including the California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Orange County Sanitation District, and the University of California at Irvine, whose research helped develop the core technology. The facility exceeds California’s strict air quality standards and advances the overall goals of the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and the Air Quality Management Districts of the South Coast and the Bay Area, who have been leaders in the work to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
 
Going forward, Toyota remains committed to supporting the development of a consumer- facing hydrogen infrastructure to realize the potential of fuel cell vehicles. Thirty-one retail hydrogen stations are now open for business in California, and Toyota continues to partner with a broad range of companies to develop new stations. That includes a partnership with Shell that represents the first such collaboration between a major automotive and major oil company.

Toyota Expanding its Industry-Leading Safety Technology Package with Second Generation Toyota Safety Sense™

Next Generation of Advanced, Mass-Market Safety Technologies to Help Mitigate More Potential Causes of Accidents

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) today announced that the second generation of its Toyota Safety Sense™(TSS) package of active safety features will begin rolling out as standard equipment on certain Toyota vehicles beginning in mid-2018. The updated safety package will add new technologies and capabilities that enhance protection for drivers, passengers, and others who share the road, while helping to provide peace of mind in even more driving situations.
 
“At Toyota, we are committed to making high-level driver assistance systems more widely available and even more affordable across a broader range of our vehicles,” said Chris Nielsen, executive vice president of product support and chief quality officer of Toyota Motor North America. “The second generation of Toyota Safety Sense™ takes our industry-leading suite of safety technologies to the next level, delivering new advanced and intuitive protections that are another step toward a future without traffic injuries or fatalities.”
 
The second generation TSS reflects Toyota’s ongoing efforts to reduce the cost of advanced safety technologies and make them accessible to a wider range of new car buyers. The initial version of TSS, along with Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+), brought Toyota’s Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and other advanced safety systems to more than five million Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in North America, Japan, and Europe. By the end of 2017, TSS and LSS+ will be standard on almost every model in the Toyota and Lexus lineups.
 
As with the first generation TSS, the upgraded system is designed to support driver awareness, decision making and vehicle operation over a wide range of speeds under certain conditions. Packaged together into an integrated system, it helps to address three key areas of accident protection: preventing or mitigating frontal collisions, keeping drivers within their lanes, and enhancing road safety during nighttime driving.
 
The second generation TSS has been expanded to help improve driver situational awareness while providing additional protections for a pedestrian or bicyclist in front of the vehicle. New or updated technologies will include: 

• Pre-Collision System (updated) with enhanced deceleration capabilities and the ability to help detect a collision with a pedestrian in front of the vehicle during the day and at night, and bicyclist in front of the vehicle during the day.
• Lane Departure Alert (updated) enhanced with “road edge detection” to increase the vehicle’s ability to help drivers stay in their lane
• Road Sign Assist (new), which is designed to display road sign information in an easy-to-understand format on the dashboard meter display and Head-Up Display if equipped. The vehicle’s onboard camera can detect and recognize certain common road signs in the U.S., Japan and Europe (road sign type varies by market).
• Lane Tracing Assist (new), which provides steering support to help the driver keep the vehicle centered in its lane when Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is in operation. 
• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (updated) with enhanced forward recognition and acceleration/deceleration performance across a wide range of speeds. (Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control not available vehicles equipped with manual transmissions).

 
With the introduction of second generation TSS beginning in mid-2018, the list of Toyota Safety Sense™ packages in the United States is as follows:
 

TSS-C (Certain current models)	TSS-P (Certain current models)	TSS (Beginning mid-2018 in certain models)
Pre-Collision System Lane Departure Alert Auto High Beams	Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection function Lane Departure Alert (available with Steering Assist function on certain models) Auto High Beams Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (Full-Speed Range available on certain models)	Pre-Collision System with Day/Night Pedestrian Detection function and Day Bicycle Detection function Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist Lane Tracing Assist Road Sign Assist Auto High Beams Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (excluding manual transmission vehicles) with enhanced forward recognition and acceleration/deceleration

 
Toyota plans to continue expanding the capabilities of Toyota Safety Sense™ with a broader range of automated safety systems and technology as research and development progresses. This proven approach to technology development helps speed the introduction of advanced systems designed to help improve safety, reduce accidents and ease traffic congestion.

Toyota Unveils Third Generation Humanoid Robot T-HR3

Remote, safe, smooth operation of robot enabled through new, advanced Torque Servo Module and Master Maneuvering System

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) today revealed T-HR3, the company’s third generation humanoid robot. Toyota’s latest robotics platform, designed and developed by Toyota’s Partner Robot Division, will explore new technologies for safely managing physical interactions between robots and their surroundings, as well as a new remote maneuvering system that mirrors user movements to the robot.
 
T-HR3 reflects Toyota’s broad-based exploration of how advanced technologies can help to meet people’s unique mobility needs. T-HR3 represents an evolution from previous generation instrument-playing humanoid robots, which were created to test the precise positioning of joints and pre-programmed movements, to a platform with capabilities that can safely assist humans in a variety of settings, such as the home, medical facilities, construction sites, disaster-stricken areas and even outer space.
 
“The Partner Robot team members are committed to using the technology in T-HR3 to develop friendly and helpful robots that coexist with humans and assist them in their daily lives. Looking ahead, the core technologies developed for this platform will help inform and advance future development of robots to provide ever-better mobility for all,” said Akifumi Tamaoki, general manager, Partner Robot Division.

T-HR3 is controlled from a Master Maneuvering System that allows the entire body of the robot to be operated instinctively with wearable controls that map hand, arm and foot movements to the robot, and a head-mounted display that allows the user to see from the robot’s perspective. The system’s master arms give the operator full range of motion of the robot’s corresponding joints and the master foot allows the operator to walk in place in the chair to move the robot forward or laterally. The Self-interference Prevention Technology embedded in T-HR3 operates automatically to ensure the robot and user do not disrupt each other’s movements.
 
Onboard T-HR3 and the Master Maneuvering System, motors, reduction gears and torque sensors (collectively called Torque Servo Modules) are connected to each joint. These modules communicate the operator’s movements directly to T-HR3’s 29 body parts and the Master Maneuvering System’s 16 master control systems for a smooth, synchronized user experience. The Torque Servo Module has been developed in collaboration with Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd. and NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS CORP. This technology advances Toyota’s research into safe robotics by measuring the force exerted by and on T-HR3 as it interacts with its environment and then conveying that information to the operator using force feedback.
 
The Torque Servo Module enables T-HR3’s core capabilities: Flexible Joint Control, to control the force of contact the robot makes with any individuals or objects in its surrounding environment; Whole-body Coordination and Balance Control, to maintain the robot’s balance if it collides with objects in its environment; and Real Remote Maneuvering, to give users seamless and intuitive control over the robot. These functions have broad implications for future robotics research and development, especially for robots that operate in environments where they must safely and precisely interact with their surroundings.
                        
Since the 1980s, Toyota has been developing industrial robots to enhance its manufacturing processes. Partner Robot has utilized the insights from that experience and built on Toyota’s expertise in automotive technologies to develop new mobility solutions that support doctors, caregivers and patients, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
 
T-HR3 will be featured at the upcoming International Robot Exhibition 2017 at Tokyo Big Sight from November 29 through December 2.
 

Technical Specifications
 

	Master Maneuvering System	T-HR3
Size	W:850 mm x D:1500 mm x H:1450 mm	H:1540 mm
Weight	170 kg	75 kg
Moving Parts	16 axes	32 axes and 10 fingers
Accessories	Data Glove, Head-Mounted Display

Toyota Premieres Powerful First Olympic and Paralympic Television Commercial as it Transitions from an Automobile to Mobility Company

 “Mobility For All,” the first spot from Toyota’s first global campaign “Start Your Impossible” premieres November 16 

Toyota’s television commercial “Mobility For All” will air for the first time on television in the U.S. tonight on NBCSN during the Winter Olympic Trials with an Olympic and Paralympic message that delivers hope and breaks new ground for Toyota as it evolves from an automobile company to mobility company.
 
Created as part of the company’s eight-year global sponsorship of The Olympic and Paralympic Games and as the first-ever Mobility Partner in the history of The Olympic Partner (TOP) Programme to sponsor the mobility category, “Mobility For All” leads Toyota’s first global campaign, “Start Your Impossible.”
 
The campaign is a reflection of the company’s transition to a mobility company. As the anthem to inspire and enable the pursuit of all things impossible through movement, “Mobility For All” highlights mobility stories of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and other individuals (ages 1 to 100) in every stage of life. The 60-second spot also introduces transportation solutions, next-generation mobility, and advanced technologies researched and developed by Toyota.
 
A group of 16 distinguished athletes taking part in “Mobility For All” includes: Tatyana McFadden, the world’s leading wheelchair racer, who has won 17 Paralympic medals across five Games for the USA; Brad Snyder, American Paralympic swimmer, former captain of the U.S. Naval Academy swim team and three-time gold medalist at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016; and Rami Anis, a swimmer from Syria, part of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

While the ad is the first spot to debut, Toyota will roll out nine additional commercials globally through The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018. Each commercial will feature inspirational stories and Toyota's range of mobility products, a mix of conceptual inventions used for research and development purposes, as well as products that Toyota has committed to deliver to the market.
 
Toyota’s new website, MobilityForAll.com (to be rolled out in phases), was built in consultation with the National Center for Accessible Media. The site was designed to be accessible for users with various impairments. Whether set to default, visually impaired, hearing impaired, mobility impaired or cognitively impaired, all coding and design features work to make the experience equally enjoyable for all users.

Launching in addition to the new broadcast campaign are “Start Your Impossible” digital and social amplifications including:
 

• Relay Your Challenge: With the belief that achieving the impossible begins by setting goals and declaring them aloud, Toyota encourages consumers and its team members to share their ‘impossible statement’ and relay it forward so that people worldwide can participate and challenge themselves. Visit RelayYourChallenge.com.

• Impossible Stories: These are inspiring in-depth long form videos of 10 impossible challengers in 10 countries, three of which are available at launch. The documentaries convey a deeper understanding of Toyota’s vision for the future through the challengers’ stories of starting their own “impossible.”

 
“I can’t think of any better stage to announce our evolution as The Human Movement Company than the pinnacle of human movement, The Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor North America. “At Toyota, we believe that movement is a human right. With the ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign, we aim to inspire people and as a company, aspire to solve challenges and create solutions to mobility barriers that limit human potential.”
 
“The campaign, was born out of an unprecedented move by Toyota and our long-standing agency partners at Saatchi & Saatchi (Los Angeles and Dallas) and Dentsu (Tokyo) that broke down agency walls to collaborate as one integrated team,” said Hollis.”
 
To view and learn more about Toyota and the “Start Your Impossible” campaign, please visit MobilityForAll.com.

Toyota Opportunity Exchange Makes its Motown Debut

28th Annual Event Brings Tier 1 Suppliers and Minority Businesses Together in Detroit

At Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit today, the 28th Toyota Opportunity Exchange brought together minority, and women-owned businesses and representatives from Tier 1 suppliers to network, help foster relationships and strengthen the automotive supplier base.

This was the first time the event was held in Detroit. Michigan, home to 60 of the top 100 North American automotive suppliers and over 1,700 automotive-related manufacturing facilities, is the ideal location to bring together representatives from companies that drive the automotive industry with companies that aspire to do the same. Michigan’s strong automotive history and vast supplier base was also the catalyst for Toyota’s recent $154 Million investment to expand its research and development operations and create its Supplier Center in the state.

“With the relocation of our purchasing team as well as the construction of our Supplier Center in Michigan, it only made sense to bring the Opportunity Exchange event to Detroit. The goal of Opportunity Exchange is to connect diverse companies with Tier I suppliers, and the largest concentration of those Tier 1’s is right here in Michigan,” said Robert Young, group vice president for Toyota Purchasing, Supplier Engineering Development (SED) and Cost Planning. “By strengthening critical skills, business insight, and networking, our goal is to turn today’s connections into tomorrow’s relationships.”

Throughout its 28-year history, the Toyota Opportunity Exchange has allowed hundreds of diverse businesses to cultivate and strengthen relationships within the automotive space.

“As the Piston Group continues to grow, we have consistently delivered high customer satisfaction, high quality and low cost, enabling our selection as a supplier to Toyota," said Vinnie Johnson, founder, chairman and CEO of Piston Group. "We are proud of our partnership with Toyota, and thrilled to participate in the Opportunity Exchange.” 

The event includes a trade show, seminar and panel discussions that focus on how diverse suppliers can turn relationships into opportunities.

“Our annual participation in the Toyota Opportunity Exchange has been a key component in our exponential business growth with Toyota in chemical management, and continues to spur creativity within the Chemico organization," said Leon C. Richardson, president & CEO, The Chemico Group. "We are thrilled that this year’s event is being held in our hometown -- the Motor City.” 

Beginning in 1989 with 300 attendees, Toyota Opportunity Exchange has grown to over 1,800 attendees and has generated hundreds of millions in contracts for suppliers.

For more information, visit ToyotaOpportunityExchange.com.

Toyota Sets a Goal of Mobility For All in Global “Start Your Impossible” Campaign

Campaign Features Real-Life Success Stories Focused on Toyota’s Commitment To Enabling Human Movement

Company’s first-ever global campaign to launch in celebration of The Olympic and Paralympic Games

Toyota continues its evolution as a mobility company with its first-ever global marketing campaign. “Start Your Impossible” launches today in 24 countries in celebration of Toyota’s eight-year global sponsorship of The Olympic and Paralympic Games as the first-ever Mobility Partner in the history of The Olympic Partner (TOP) Programme to sponsor the mobility category.
 
“Start Your Impossible” debuts with a film entitled “Mobility For All” which features 100 real-life mobility stories of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and other individuals (ages 1 to 100) in every stage of life. An additional 15 markets will start running in the months leading up to The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018.

The fully integrated campaign highlights Toyota’s mission to create a barrier-free society and reinforces the company’s values of humility, hard work, overcoming challenges, and never giving up.
While “Mobility For All” is the first creative asset to debut globally, Toyota will roll out nine additional spots globally that feature inspirational stories and Toyota's range of mobility products - a mix of conceptual inventions used for research and development purposes and products that Toyota has committed to deliver to the market.
 
The “Start Your Impossible” campaign TV commercials close with an original mnemonic featuring Toyota’s mobility products and athletes who embody the best in human performance.  Print, digital and out-of-home “Start Your Impossible” creative aims to start conversations about breaking barriers to achieve dreams.
 
Toyota has recently launched a website – MobilityForAll.com. In consultation with the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) in the United States, the website (which will be rolled out in phases) is built to be accessible for users with various impairments and to allow all users to experience the site’s content. Whether set to default, visually impaired, hearing impaired, mobility impaired or cognitively impaired, all coding and design features work to make the experience equally enjoyable for all users.
A partial list of the digital and social amplifications of “Start Your Impossible” that will be available at launch include:

• Relay Your Challenge: With the belief that achieving the impossible begins by setting goals and declaring them aloud, Toyota encourages consumers and its team members to share their ‘impossible statement’ and relay it forward so that people worldwide can participate and challenge themselves. Visit RelayYourChallenge.com.
• Impossible Stories: These are inspiring in-depth long form videos of 10 impossible challengers in 10 countries, three of which are available at launch. The documentaries convey a deeper understanding of Toyota’s vision for the future through the challengers’ stories of starting their own “impossible.”

A group of 16 distinguished athletes taking part in the first “Mobility for All” spot of the campaign includes: Tatyana McFadden, the world’s leading wheelchair racer who has won 17 Paralympic medals across five Games for the USA; Brad Snyder, American Paralympic swimmer, former captain of the U.S. Naval Academy swim team and three-time gold medalist at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016; and Rami Anis, a swimmer from Syria, part of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

To view and learn more about Toyota and the “Start Your Impossible” campaign visit MobilityForAll.com.
 
“At Toyota, we embrace the potential of new technology to help us create products and services that enable people to overcome barriers and to reach their potential,” said Susumu Matsuda, Marketing Division General Manager, Toyota Motor Corporation. “The Olympic and Paralympic Games align with Toyota’s values and are platforms to showcase our global commitment to the concept of mobility for all.”
 
“Mobility means something different to every person around the world.  At Toyota, we have always defined mobility as providing people with the opportunity to move freely, and we believe the time has come to share our mobility vision and solutions with everyone.  I can think of no better stage to announce our evolution as The Human Movement Company than the pinnacle of human movement, the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor North America. “At Toyota, we believe that movement is a human right. With the ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign, we aim to inspire people and as a company, aspire to solve challenges and create solutions to mobility barriers that limit human potential.”
 
“The campaign, was born out of an unprecedented move by Toyota and our long-standing agency partners at Saatchi & Saatchi (Los Angeles and Dallas) and Dentsu (Tokyo) that broke down agency walls to collaborate as one integrated team,” Hollis said.”