Toyota Financial Services (TFS) Named One of the Most Community-Minded Companies in the Nation

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) was once again honored to be named one of the most community-minded companies in the nation by Points of Light Foundation. This is the fifth consecutive year that TFS earned a spot on the Civic 50 list. The company continued its longstanding run as a leader in corporate social responsibility by consistently expanding its initiatives to support and empower communities.

The Civic 50 sets the standard for corporate community engagement nationwide and creates a roadmap for companies seeking to best use their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. Winners are selected based on four dimensions of their national community engagement programs: Integration, Investment, Impact and Institutionalization.

TFS was recognized for its unwavering commitment to developing opportunities for young people and promoting financial empowerment. The company implemented an array of successful community initiatives which included funding and administering an extensive merit-based college scholarship program. TFS continued to maintain strong partnerships with Girl Scouts of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Junior Achievement. A common theme in all these partnerships was the company’s focus on mentoring young people to help them build crucial life skills. This was supported in large part by TFS’ Community Ambassador program which provides opportunities for employees to volunteer while developing competencies in leadership, communication, and project management that will help them in the workplace. In 2018, a record 59% of TFS employees recorded over 20,000 volunteer hours.

“I’ve always been inspired by TFS team members and their dedication to getting involved and helping build a better world,” said Mark Templin, president & CEO of TFS. “Giving back to our communities is part of our Toyota DNA, and we’re honored and humbled that Points of Light Foundation has recognized our efforts.”

For more information on The Civic 50 and the latest trends on community engagement, view the report at www.civic50.org. For more information on TFS’ community involvement and the partnerships the company supports, please visit: http://tfsinthecommunity.com.

About Toyota Financial Services
Toyota Financial Services (TFS) is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota in the United States, offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust. TFS also offers extended service contracts through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). The company services Lexus dealers and customers using the Lexus Financial Services brand. TFS currently employs approximately 3,200 team members nationwide, and has assets totaling over $115 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. We announce material financial information using the investor relations section of our website (www.toyotafinancial.com) and SEC filings. We use these channels, press releases, and social media to communicate about our company, our services and other issues. While not all information we post on social media is of a material nature, some information could be material. Therefore, we encourage those interested in our company to review our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/toyotafinancial.

About Points of Light
Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in more than 200 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages four million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

Toyota Plans to Deploy Automatic Engine Shut Off and Automatic Park Features to Vehicle Line Up

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today announces two feature updates to its vehicle line up – Automatic Engine Shut Off and Automatic Park. Each feature represents Toyota’s relentless commitment to continuous improvement.
 

• Automatic Engine Shut Off

Starting with most Model Year 2020 vehicles, Toyota will provide additional features such as automatic engine shut off or “Auto Shut Off” with an enhanced audible and visual warning to its Smart Key System* (SKS).  The Auto Shut Off feature will automatically shut off the engine after a pre-determined period of time in the event the vehicle is left running. Future enhancements will include smartphone App capabilities as an added reminder.  Currently, Toyota vehicles issue a two-step alert to notify the driver that the engine is running and requests engine to be turned off. Toyota has included this feature since its 2003 SKS introduction.

* Toyota’s current Smart Key System meets or exceeds all relevant federal safety standards while providing added convenience, improved theft prevention and personal security benefits. 
 

• Automatic Park

Also, starting from Model Year 2020, Toyota will begin to phase in Automatic Park, which is designed to help reduce the risk of roll-away.  The feature will be available in vehicles with electronic means of shifting and/or applying the parking brake, and is designed to automatically shift the vehicle into the “park” position and/or apply the electronic parking brake, in the event the driver exits the vehicle without placing the vehicle in “park.” **

**Currently, Toyota vehicles include audible and visual warnings.  Also,Toyota’s non-traditional shifters have a separate P button to reduce confusion.
 
Toyota has long been a leader in technological innovation. For example, the company first introduced Toyota Safety Sense and Lexus Safety System+ packages with automatic emergency braking – standard, based on the belief that making these innovative technologies standard is not only beneficial on the road but helps improve customer satisfaction. With roughly five million vehicles on the road equipped with these systems in the United States and ninety percent of Toyota vehicles produced for the United States market,Toyota continues to pave the way with its relentless focus on enhancing our customers’ experience.

Buckling Down on Car Seats for National Safety Month

What if there was a way to help prevent one of the leading causes of childhood death, but three out of four of us were doing it incorrectly? What if you found out we were talking about something as ordinary as a car seat? What would you do?

For Gloria Del Castillo, the answer has always been clear: help more families get it right. That’s why she is so passionate about Buckle Up for Life and her role as Senior Specialist of Community Engagement.
Buckle Up for Life is a national safety program from Toyota and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center that educates parents and caregivers about the proper use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts. The program also provides free car seats to participating families in need. 

Since its launch in 2004, Buckle Up for Life has impacted more than 100,000 people and given more than 60,000 car seats to families in need. But the work is far from over. With Toyota’s support, Buckle Up for Life expands to new cities each summer and continues to provide guidance and education throughout the year on BuckleUpforLife.org.

“While it’s true that cars and trucks are safer than ever, a properly installed car seat can mean the difference between life and death in a crash,” said Del Castillo. “According to the CDC, car seats reduce the risk for injury in a crash by 71 to 82 percent for children when compared with seat belt use alone. That’s why Buckle Up for Life is so important and why I’m so inspired to keep expanding the program.”

Al Smith, Group Vice President, Chief Social Innovation Officer for Toyota Motor North America added, “We’ve been so proud to partner with Cincinnati Children’s to expand Buckle Up for Lifefrom a local program to a national network of community organizations in 49 states. We look forward to empowering even more parents and caregivers with the education and resources they need to help keep their families safe.”

In honor of National Safety Month in June, Buckle Up for Life is sharing expert advice to help families keep their littlest passengers safe during the busy summer travel season and beyond.

Top Car Seat Tips and Techniques from Buckle Up for Life:

1. Use the “Inch Test” and “Pinch Test”: After you’ve buckled your child into their car seat, pinch the strap near their shoulders. If you can pinch a wrinkle in the fabric, tighten the strap until it is snug. Then grab the car seat at the bottom where it is attached to the car and tug from side to side and front to back. If the seat moves more than an inch in either direction, tighten it.

 

2. Save the Towels for Your Beach Chair: Car seats can get hot in the summer weather, however don’t place towels between your child and their car seat to keep them cool. Extra material could interfere with the seat’s ability to restrain the child in the event of a crash.

 

3. Just like Sunscreen, Car Seats Expire: Extreme weather changes can be stressful on car seat components. It is best to check the expiration date on your car seat, as the plastic in the seat and the integrity of the fabric in the straps can degrade over time. The expiration date can usually be found on a sticker affixed to the seat or the registration card.

 

4. Secure Loose Items in the Car: Make sure all loose items – particularly summer travel essentials such as beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas and suitcases – are tightly secured in your vehicle. These objects could become projectiles in the event of a crash.

 

5. Don’t rent a car seat: If you are renting a car this summer, use your own car seat. When you rent a car seat you don’t know important facts about its history that could affect its ability to protect your child (e.g., expiration date, crash history, etc.). The good news is that most airlines allow you to check your car seat for free.

For more information on how to help keep child passengers safe, please visit BuckleUpforLife.orgto access helpful articles, car seat installation videos and more.

First-Ever Lexus Jet Stars in Sony Pictures’ Men in Black: International

Lexus QZ 618 Galactic Enforcer jet helps save the universe with never-before-seen advanced alien-fighting technology


With today’s red carpet premiere of Sony Pictures’ highly-anticipated Men in BlackTM: International comes the world debut of the Lexus QZ 618 Galactic Enforcer jet -- the first in the brand’s new jet-class fleet. Currently available only to MIB agents, it is powered by hybrid transformer technology. With the push of a button it morphs from a 2020 Lexus RC F sport coupe into the most powerful IFO (Identified Flying Object) ever engineered by Lexus. It is also the only Lexus available in the darkest black in the entire universe: Umbra Black1.

“The Lexus jet reflects the future of the Lexus brand – the far, far distant future,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing. “With the most advanced alien-fighting technology, performance and sophisticated styling, it’s in a class of its own.”

In a top-secret exchange of knowledge with an alien partner, brokered by “the agency,” Lexus was able to secure Quasar Power Source2 Technology (QPST) that uses the power of the nearest Active Galactic Nucleus3 (AGN) to travel anywhere in the universe in seconds. Quasi-Stellar Objects4 (QSOs) are found in every galaxy that has a supermassive central black hole. So, all QPST-powered Lexus vehicles are named after black holes.5

Key jet features include:
Technology

• IGPS (Inter-Galactic Positioning System)
• Amazon Alexa* understands all seven trillion alien languages
• Gamma ray headlamps
• Infinite scaling technology 

Performance

• Lexus’ very latest Quasar Power Source Technology (QPST)
• Propulsion system named after Black Hole TON 618
• 122 MPG (Millennia Per Gallon)
• Three driving modes: EcoDrive, SportDrive, QuantumDrive
• 0-60 in 0.0000000000001 nanoseconds
• Light-speed-matching capability

 
Comfort & Design

• Intergalactically sourced, ethically spawned Adorian leather 

Safety

• Lexus’ latest transforming seats with a 31-point harnesses to accommodate every body type in the universe
• Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) with available force field technology 

Styles & Packages

• Enforcer Package
• Everything you need to protect the earth from the scum of the universe
• Also available in six other colors, but naturally, Lexus recommends UmbraBlack

Lexus vehicles are the official fleet of Men in Black agents globally in the film. The 2020 Lexus RC F stars as the Men in Black agents’ vehicle of choice for their high velocity pursuits. The luxury sport coupe recently underwent an exciting change, making it faster, lighter and even more ready to transport the Men in Black as they save the universe.

“The Lexus RC F sports coupe and QZ 618 Galactic Enforcer jet provide the perfect vehicles for our team of Men in Black agents as they protect the galaxy,” said Jeffrey Godsick, EVP, Brand Management and Global Partnerships, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.

To learn more about the film, visit MeninBlack.com. Men in Black: International makes its way to U.S. theaters on June 14.

Toyota Gets Tough for a Soccer-Filled Summer with Tacoma and Tundra

Partnerships with Concacaf Gold Cup and soccer icon, Jorge Campos, lead the celebration of all-terrain fans



The triumphant cheers of soccer fans and the roar of Toyota Tacomas and Tundras will echo throughout the summer as Toyota launches its “Choose the Toughest Field” soccer campaign. The multifaceted communications platform builds powerful connections between the game, players, fans and trucks that are ready to take on the toughest of challenges.
 
Toyota returns as the official automotive sponsor of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup tournament, where the best soccer players from North and Central America and the Caribbean will compete to determine the region’s best team. In addition to an interactive pre-game celebration for fans (Futbol Fiesta), the partnership also includes broadcast, in-cinema, social, digital, in-stadium signage and messaging on stadium screens. 
 
“This campaign champions the relentless spirit of those unafraid to conquer even the toughest terrains, just like our Tacoma and Tundra trucks,” said Terry Sell, national truck manager, Toyota Motor North America. “From international to home field games, we’re looking forward to an exciting soccer season as we celebrate the determination and toughness of the game, its players and the fans.” 
 
Joining Toyota to share his notable story is retired Mexican soccer legend, Jorge Campos. A prominent player in the 1990s and 2000s, Campos was an electric player, known for his tough acrobatic style of goalkeeping and his colorful playing attire. Campos joins the campaign celebrating players and fans willing to give it their all on (and off) the field.
 
Fans will have the chance to engage with the robust digital content on Toyota Latino social platforms, including a series of videos starring Campos demonstrating difficult soccer techniques performed on tough fields while encouraging soccer fanáticos to choose their toughest fields with the hashtag #CanchaDificil (ToughestField). Fans can find more information at:  www.toyota.com/trucks and https://www.toyota.com/espanol/trucks/. The campaign was developed by Conill, Toyota’s Hispanic marketing partner.
 
“I am excited to have this opportunity to work with Toyota on our shared passion for soccer,” said Jorge Campos, current soccer analyst for TV Azteca in Mexico.  “The message really hit home for me. Whether as a young boy playing the beautiful game in harsh conditions in Acapulco or as a pro competing in enemy territory, I needed to be willing to give it my all, no matter how tough the surroundings. That’s what it takes to win.”
 
Toyota will further fuel momentum among fans through partnerships with two high-level soccer properties. Beginning with Alianza de Futbol, Toyota rekindles its sponsorship of Copita Toyota Alianza, which showcases the best youth soccer teams in the United States. The partnership includes an interactive footprint of activities and special guest appearances. The tournament started in Atlanta this past May and continues through September.
 
Continuing the success of last year’s Tour Aguila, Toyota is once again partnering with Club America for another series of high-octane matches in the U.S.  For the second straight year, fans will witness the excitement of one of the most popular teams in North America as they prepare for several amazing contests against international powerhouses. Tacoma and Tundra will be there for all of the pregame activities at the Fiesta Futbolera presented by Toyota.
 
Toyota is also engaged with a variety of other popular soccer properties including Liga Mexicana, MNT/USMNT, and UEFA Champions League, with broadcast integrations during telecast games.

Mazda Toyota’s Nod to Huntsville’s History

As a tribute to Huntsville’s leadership role with the U.S. space program, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (MTM) will name its two assembly lines Apollo and Discovery, respectively.
 
“Thanks to our team members’ creativity and innovative thinking, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is proud to name our two future assembly lines Apollo and Discovery in a nod to our city’s heritage as the birthplace of our nation’s space program,” said Mark Brazeal, vice president for administration at MTM. “The scores of brilliant men and women who worked tirelessly to further mankind’s progress and exploration into the unknown gives our team motivation to add to the Rocket City’s history as a producer of world-class vehicles.”
 
Apollo was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) program that resulted in 12 American astronauts walking on the moon. The Space Shuttle Discovery completed 39 successful missions, surpassing the number of flights made by any other orbiters in NASA’s fleet.  Discovery also launched the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit and was the first American Spacecraft piloted by a woman, Eileen Collins.
 
Construction of the MTM plant remains on schedule, with the start of production expected to begin in 2021. Up to 4,000 new jobs will be created and hiring is underway. In August 2017, Toyota and Mazda announced a collaboration to establish MTM, a $1.6 billion joint venture that will assemble up to 300,000 vehicles annually.
 
Individuals interested in working for MTM can search and apply for jobs online at MazdaToyota.com.