Toyota To Work With JLL in Development of New Headquarters in Plano

First they helped the world’s largest automaker find the place; now they’ll help with the space.  

Toyota has also hired developer KDC and design firm Corgan for the project. Real estate strategy firm JLL previously assisted Toyota in analyzing potential sites before the company chose Plano, and will be Toyota’s third partner in building the company’s new North American headquarters in Plano, Texas. JLL will support project management services, helping keep the enormous undertaking on track and on target.Toyota plans to move into its new headquarters at the southwest corner of State Highway 121 and Legacy Drive in either late 2016 or early 2017. The headquarters is expected to employ 4,000 workers in a 1 million-square-foot property

The firm is quite familiar with the project; it helped Toyota analyze potential sites before the company closed in on the Plano plan.

“We are honored to partner with Toyota as they embark on the development of their new state-of-the-art headquarters in Plano,” says JLL Managing Director Scott Boer.  “We believe the values and principles our two companies share are a perfect match and will render an ideal workplace for Toyota and its associates far into the future.”

“We are eager to move forward with the construction of our new headquarters with an experienced team that has a history of collaboration, like JLL and KDC,” says Doug Beebe, Toyota Motor Sales, Inc., corporate manager of Administrative Services. “JLL is a recognized industry leader that will add tremendous value to our project by providing a single point of contact to handle the consolidation and development in Plano.” 

Thrill of the real race, Toyota goes virtual and actual with new FT-1 sports concepts

New Experience for Gamers, the Ultra High – Performance Virtual Race Version of Toyota's Sports Car Concept 

Toyota has joined the “Gran Turismo” parade of video game racers with a hulking version of its FT-1 concept. 

Calty Design Research, Toyota's design studio in Newport Beach, California, designed the FT-1 to shock the world with bold, sculpted lines that communicate both speed and power. Toyota has revealed two physical interpretations of FT-1 concept – in red and graphite – to showcase the vehicle’s versatility and striking styling. The red version was available as a Gran Turismo 6 download earlier this year and the graphite is available now. Vision Gran Turismo asks automakers to dream up concepts for PlayStation 3 gamers around the world in a celebration of the “Gran Turismo” series’ 15^th anniversary.

"The design brief for this car was very simple: Take the FT-1 concept car and turn it into the most kick-ass, bad-ass super race car you can imagine," says Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota's Calty Design Research. 

“From the start of the FT-1 project, we wanted the driver to have a feeling of flow while at the wheel – to be able to focus on the road and nothing else,” said Sellene Lee, the Calty creative designer who proposed both color concepts. “In the color studio we help create the atmosphere of the vehicle, and our aim was to ensure everything supported the driver through efficient choices. The saddle leather maintains that same ‘in the zone’ driving intention, while bringing in a more premium feeling.”

Prior to building the FT-1 concept vehicle, key Toyota executives (including Toyota President Akio Toyoda) experienced its excitement inside the GT6 game. With today’s download, more fans can take the virtual wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuXFyCHp59w

  

26 year Toyota worker wins 10 Millionth Camry and drives it home

Tom Keith was the envy of all 7,000 Toyota Georgetown team members when the company announced he had won a 2014 Camry in a random drawing of team members during a ceremony on Wednesday, 27^th of August. This was not just any white Camry, this was the 10-millionth vehicle made at the plant since the first Camry rolled off the line in 1988 (another white Camry). Tom Keith is a team member in the Quality Control Department, and has been with the company for 26 years.

“It’s icing on the cake,” said Tom Keith about the white 2014 Camry hybrid he won in a random drawing on Wednesday.

The 26-year, 4-month veteran of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in Georgetown took the keys to the plant’s 10 millionth vehicle. He was there as well when the first American-made Camry, also white, rolled off the line in 1988. The important fact is that Tom is one of the remaining 200 or so team members still working at the plant since the first Camry rolled of the line.

Keith lives in Scott County with his wife Paula. They have four grown children, one in high school, two daughters attending college and one son who is an archaeologist in Florida.

“It’s highly appropriate that our 10 millionth vehicle goes to one of the team members who made this milestone possible,” said TMMK Plant President Will James.  “Our team members are the heart and soul of this company, and they make all of our successes possible.”

After hearing the news of his good luck, Tom said, “I’m in shock.”  

“I’m going to surprise my wife. She works at the Scott County Library and drives a 2007 Avalon.  I’m going to go over there this afternoon, move her car out and park the new Camry in her space.  She’s going to scream.”

Toyota Indiana to Expand Wildly Popular 2015 Highlander Production, Add 300 More Jobs

The Indiana factory, that builds the Highlander for sale in the US, is expanding to meet the growing demand. More than 4,500 people currently work at Toyota’s Princeton plant, which produces Highlander and Sequoia sport utility vehicles and Sienna minivans.

In December 2013, sales have been strong in the Indiana plant.  From January through July 2014, Toyota sold about 90,000 Highlanders, an increase of 16 percent over the same period the previous year.

Toyota will add 300 new American jobs to support the Highlander and also pour over $100,000,000 into the factory that builds the 8-passenger crossover. This means that Toyota will have an investment of over $4,000,000,000 in just this Indiana facility. The added jobs and capacity will take about two years to come to fruition. Toyota expects the workers and new facility expansion to be in place by summer of 2016. 

Like many of its models, they are built proudly in Indiana. The Toyota Highlander is exported to Australia, New Zealand and Eastern Europe, as well as being sold right here in the U.S. Additionally, Toyota Indiana exports the Sienna to South Korea and the Pacific Islands, among other countries; and the Sequoia to the Middle East. Truly, Toyota Indiana is a global supply base for Toyota SUVs and minivans. With the latest expansion, which will add 300 jobs, things can only go up from here.

“The Highlander has been a great product for our plant,” said Toyota Indiana President Norm Bafunno.  “Establishing Highlander as the ‘bridge vehicle,’ as we call it, between the East and West plants increases our ability to meet customer needs for our outstanding products.  This exciting news is a true testament to the capability of our hard-working and dedicated team members.”

Indiana is a state that works when it comes to building the cars that keep America moving forward,” said Gov. Mike Pence. “Hoosier-built products like the Toyota Highlander are known around the world for their precision and quality. And with suppliers in all corners of the state, Toyota is helping to strengthen and grow Indiana’s economy.”

Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing investing $ 32.5M into construction of new Ann Arbor area facility, adding 250 employees

The technical center of Toyota is moving forward with their plans to expand its facility in order to accommodate 250 employees being brought on as a result of direct procurement relocation from a Kentucky facility.

The expansion is a part that follows the investment. Toyota said it would invest up to $32.5 million to construct a new facility in the township. The investment and expansion also comes along with a $4 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. 

“We greatly appreciate the support and encouragement of the Michigan Economic  Development Corporation, Ann Arbor SPARK, York Township and elected officials across the state as we continue to expand our presence in Michigan,” said Osamu Nagata, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.  “The Toyota Technical Center has been the driving force behind our engineering and R&D activities in North America for more than 35 years, so I am pleased and proud that we will continue to grow these operations.  We look forward to strengthening our ties with Michigan even further and making continued investments that will help drive the success of Toyota, our supplier partners and the state for many years to come.”

Officials said that the expansion of TTC campus is a key element of the company's ongoing consolidation of its North America operations. Toyota announced in April that it was consolidating its U.S. headquarters to Plano, Texas and that it would only spare the York Township facility from consolidation of all of its U.S. locations.

For the Michigan Governor Rick Snyder this choice to grow in Michigan is a positive one. And it will reflect on the state's business climate.

 

“Toyota’s expansion sends a message around the world that Michigan’s singular leadership in auto manufacturing and research and development means real opportunities for global companies,” said Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. “Toyota’s decision demonstrates how Michigan’s highly competitive business climate and premier manufacturing workforce can help automakers and other industries grow.”

“Growing our footprint in the design and engineering center of the U.S. automotive industry will enhance our ability to engage, support and partner with our key suppliers, the majority of which are located in southeast Michigan,” Mr. Nagata said.  “With this move, we are bringing our direct procurement activities closer to the strongest automotive supply base in the world.  As we go from concept to mass production of our vehicles, having our direct procurement and engineering functions in close proximity will help us continue creating products that exceed our customers’ expectations, both now and in the future.”  

Building Greener Pastures: Toyota names sustainable design firm Corgan for new Plano headquarters

It is official! Toyota announced that it has hired Dallas-based Corgan to build its new North American Headquarters campus in the Dallas – Forth Worth Metroplex. 

The firm was selected after the Japanese automaker interviewed a number of architecture firms throughout the world, said Doug Beebe, corporate manager of administrative services for Toyota.

“After a search that included some of the finest architectural firms in the world, we are thrilled to welcome Corgan as designers of our North American headquarters in Plano, Texas,” said Doug Beebe, corporate manager of Administrative Services at Toyota.  “Corgan is a world-class firm that has designed many beautiful corporate campuses and other projects, both here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and around the world.  We are looking forward to seeing the design elements of this campus that Corgan will deliver to provide a collaborative and innovative workspace.”

Corgan President and CEO Bob Morris said, "We are inspired by the challenge to create a facility that will bring Toyota team members and associates from across the U.S. together in one building for the first time. It will be an honor for us at Corgan to help welcome Toyota to north Texas by creating a home for them where they will immediately feel comfortable and empowered to do their best work." 

The firm is already designing a temporary office space for Toyota to occupy in Plano until the permanent campus is built as it has been declared in a written statement.

The land was recently purchased for its new headquarters site and the campus is expected to be occupied in late 2016 or early 2017. Last month, Toyota selected Dallas-based KDC Real Estate Development & Investments, one of America’s leading commercial real estate development and investment firms, as a lead developer for the project.

When completed, the headquarters will be home to about 4,000 Toyota employees.