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.