Toyota exploring Ford based affiliated - car system

Smartphone in-car infotainment operation technology aimed at flawless user experience

Enthusiasm is obvious! Two motor corporations, Toyota and Ford are ready to work together on a connected – car infotainment system. They have reached an agreement to explore collaboration with Livio. Livio is a Ford secondary in implementation of SmartDeviceLink (SDL) technology in future Toyota vehicles as well as Lexus.

“We continue to investigate new technologies that both enhance and safeguard the driving experience of Toyota and Lexus owners,” said Shigeki Terashi, Senior Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation. “The in-car app market is quickly evolving. Developing robust, flexible, safe and user-friendly connected services is a priority for us, and one that we believe is shared by Ford, Livio and other contributors to SDL technology.”

Toyota's connected cars are currently using a system called Entune. Japanese company is thinking very seriously of adopting SDL, or the SmartDeviceLink platform, which is the open-source iteration of the AppLink system of Ford.

This kind of software provides app developers with access to controls within the vehicle such as the display screens and the voice recognition system, with the capacity for voice commands seen as a vital component in assuring that drivers keep both hands on the steering wheel.

Another advantage of SDL technology involves the ability for planner to design an app only one time. This saves planner time and allows apps to be introduced more quickly to the extensive audience.

In August 2011, Toyota and Ford agreed to work together on establishing next generation for in-car telematics all in order to make safer, more secure and appropriate driving experience. This announcement was built on earlier cooperation. 

Toyota Awarding Academic Greatness

Granted Scholarships for 22 Asian Pacific Islander (API) Students

Toyota awarded scholarships to 22 Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) students from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics majors to support and help them in seeking higher education. The donation will be great help to those students in achieving their academic and career goals. Awards for 22 students were donated at its fourth annual awards dinner and reception at the Toyota Automotive Museum on May 14, 2015.

Ranging from aerospace engineering to microbiology and chosen from the University of California, Irvine to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, scholarship recipients received $5,000 towards a degree in a STEM field for their first two years of college. There were also students from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, India, and Korea, who were also acknowledged for their accomplishments by the local government officials.

“This scholarship will play such a large part in helping me get one step closer to becoming a successful mechanical engineer,” says scholarship recipient Pamela Nguyen from North Torrance High School.  “I hope to influence my community for the better through my future creations.”  Pamela plans to study mechanical engineering at California State University Long Beach.

Executives in Toyota Karen Ideno, Doug Murtha, Julia Wada, and millennial Toyota team members Shawn Kumar and Kelsey Yu took part in a panel discussion on the topic, “What has inspired you in your personal and professional development?". This discussion brought different insight and direction on how the scholars can successfully transition into the professional work field.

In addition to Toyota's corporate contribution, the Toyota Giving Circles, a program that allows team members to donate to their preferred charity, TAAP (Toyota Asian American powered by associates) and NFTA (Network of Filipino Toyota Associates) contributed with two of the scholarships in partnership with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.
 

Engineers at work in town

Toyota Sponsors Society of Automotive Engineers Competition at Michigan International Speedway

You need to have great engineers to build great cars. So, Toyota is in search for them.

Each spring, the Formula SAE competition is held at Michigan International Speedway. Toyota is the sponsor for a consecutive year. The reason is obvious, to find the next crop of engineers and to harvest them. Hence, 120 engineering teams from colleges and universities across the U.S. and the globe are occupying one of NASCAR's fastest tracks taking part in competitions that test their abilities in real-world automotive design and engineering. This is not just an ordinary event, it means a lot to the students since they are able to get more familiar with Toyota.

“This event gives us a great opportunity to interact with engineering students,” says Toyota Engineering Recruiter Isamu Wagner. “We get to show tomorrow’s engineers that Toyota doesn’t just engineer great cars; we’re also great place to be an engineer.”

Toyota will organize a recruiting tent in the paddock, having one-on-one discussions with interested students. The Toyota Technical Center Rally Team will also be available, demonstrating their cars and sharing their experiences as Toyota engineers and rally drivers.
 

Toyota as the host in North Texas on First-Ever Supplier variety event for Local Women and Minority-Owned Businesses

Toyota hosted the first ever North Texas supplier variety event in North Texas at Dallas,Plano, at Marriott, Legacy Town center. The name of the event was “Power of Exchange 2015”. This

valuable forum was held in order to connect Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), local Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with Toyota's Tier I suppliers, and supported approach  to Toyota's sales services, such as marketing and other professional services. 

“We look forward with great anticipation to our move to Plano and are always looking for new business partners to further Toyota’s commitment to diversity,” said Bonnie Clinton, Chief Procurement Officer for Indirect Procurement at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.  “Toyota has long appreciated the important role that women and minority-owned companies play in our supply chain.  As we build ‘One Toyota’ in North America, we firmly believe that networking, learning and harnessing the economic power of a diverse range of businesses will enable Toyota and the communities we serve to grow and flourish.  We very much enjoyed this opportunity to meet the local community and lay foundations for meaningful relationships in our new home."

The event included morning session of education, other panel discussions that provide attendees with an overview of what are elements of  working with Toyota’s business partners.

In April 2014, Toyota declared that it would establish new headquarters in Plano, for its North American operations as a part of series of moves all in order to better serve the customers and also important thing position the company for tenable, long-term growth.

Toyota’s three separate North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing, and corporate operations will relocate to a single, state-of-the-art campus in Plano. This will influence nearly  4,000 employees.

 

Toyota and Morgan Spurlock together in mission to make people like hydrogen cars

Maybe too aggressively, but Toyota is pushing hydrogen as a reasonable alternative fuel. So, Toyota has pushed an award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock to show how calling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles “bullsh*t” isn’t far from the truth.    

“Fueled by Bullsh*t” is the first online video in a multi-part “Fueled by Everything” series in order to educate and teach about creative and innovative ways of how hydrogen fuel can be made from  renewable sources. The 3 minute Spurlock directed part features how  a dairy farmer and mechanical engineer follow cow manure  from a mooing supply source to its ultimate use in powering the hydrogen fuel cell electric Toyota Mirai.

“This project gave us the opportunity to dive into a world that most people don’t understand but has the potential to change our world,” said Spurlock.  “Witnessing manure, something most of us view as being pretty disposable, being transformed into hydrogen fuel to power a car was pretty remarkable.  I think this short film is pretty compelling evidence of what could be possible in the years ahead.”

Apart from the high quality droppings, hydrogen can be made from other renewable energy sources the wind, biogas, solar power, etc. This kind of method leads to the conclusion that a domestic and locally sourced fuel can power the Mirai while emitting only water vapor from the tailpipe.   

The campaign is being launched through the Toyota Mirai website (www.toyota.com/mirai) and other payed online media support. Also on the site there are explanations from scientists and experts in this field, concerning scientific development of fuel hydrogen process. The content will appear across Toyota social media, other partner sites, like Forbes.com, You Tube, Hulu.

           

“We’re putting hydrogen in the spotlight for its exciting potential as a renewable fuel source,” said Bob Carter, senior vice president, automotive operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “This is the beginning of the road for hydrogen, but we see the potential and we’re making a long-term investment in the future.”

The Mirai is four door mid – sized and it takes for re-fueling five minutes, and a distance of up to 300 miles on a full tank. The car will go on sale in California later this year.

This campaign was made together with creative agency Droga5. Visit video and other information on the site:  http://www.toyota.com/mirai/fueledbyeverything.html

Toyota started to Celebrate the begining of the Games

Dealerships Across the U.S. will Support Special Olympics USA Athletes and the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

The countdown started, less than 100 days till the opening ceremony. Toyota is the Official Automotive Partner of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games and again shows its engagement in the World Games. Dealerships across the U.S. are dedicated to raising funds to support athletes and their journey to the World Games in Los Angeles.

"This is an incredible opportunity to support a truly global event and we’re taking a holistic approach, from our sponsorship investment at the national level, support vehicles and engaging local fundraising efforts across the country to the hundreds of Toyota employees who will volunteer at the World Games,” said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America. “The world is coming to Los Angeles and we are proud to join the Special Olympics World Games and support our shared values of acceptance and inclusion."

WWE announced it has become a Promotional Partner for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, a global sporting event taking place throughout Los Angeles from July 25 – August 2, 2015. The announcement was made on stage at Monday Night Raw® at Staples Center by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games (LA2015) Patrick McClenahan joined by Special Olympics Global Messengers and USA athletes who will be competing at the Games.

With 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games – being staged in Los Angeles July 25-August 2, 2015 – will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremony, will be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. On April 30, 2014, LA2015 and ESPN announced a global programming agreement that will bring coverage of World Games to millions of fans around the world. Honorary Chairs of the Games are the President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as honorary hosts.

Not only will it be a part of the world's largest sports and humanitarian event in 2015, but Toyota will also provide vehicles to the World Games, in order to help transport Honored Guests around Los Angeles.

Support vehicles will be supplied for the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America as well as the World Games’ Law Enforcement. Torch Run for the Special Olympics Final Leg, carrying the Flame of Hope, will make its way to Los Angeles. Partnering with the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, large scale of murals  across Los Angeles that celebrate the spirit of the Special Olympics World Games will be created. In addition to this, there will also be promotions in dealerships to help promote Special Olympics and the 2015 World Games through in-store activations and events.

"As a Toyota driver as well as a Toyota dealer in Emporia, Kansas, I am looking forward to the opportunity to help Special Olympics USA on its journey to the World Games," said Clint Bowyer. "Sports have always played an important role in my life and after meeting a few of these athletes earlier this year, I know they are ready to show the world what they are made of!"

Even though this is Toyota’s first time sponsoring the World Games, the company has an almost 30-year history with Special Olympics Southern California. Toyota is committed to making its communities better places to live, and the Special Olympics World Games partnership is one of those important attempts. More information on the World Games can be found online at www.LA2015.org. 

General Constructors are named by Toyota to conduct ''One Toyota'' Construction projects in Texas, Michigan and Kentucky

Toyota declared that it has selected general contractors to conduct the construction, as a part of  the Company’s plan to build a new North American headquarters in North Texas and extend operations in Michigan and Georgetown, Kentucky.

Concerning Texas, Toyota has decided to pick Dallas-based Austin Commercial, a builder working in Texas, California, Georgia and Arizona, as the general contractor in charge of developing its new North America headquarters campus in the Legacy West development in Plano. Austin Commercial has the knowledge in all types of commercial construction. Many projects speak for themselves, including corporate headquarters and sports and health care facilities, schools and universities, data centers and other advanced technology projects like semiconductor plants.

For the projects in Georgetown, Ky., and York Township,Michigan, Toyota selected Walbridge and its shared venture minority-business enterprise (MBE) partner Devon Industrial Group as general contractors. Walbridge and Devon are both based in Detroit.

“We are pleased to be moving ahead quickly with these three projects as we work to bring our major North American business affiliates and leaders together for the first time,” said Osamu “Simon” Nagata, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. “I am confident that we have selected companies with outstanding track records, a strong focus on safety and real commitment to supplier diversity.”

To that mark, Devon will have supremacy in management of the York Township project, representing the first time a minority and/or women-owned business (MWBE) leads a major construction project for Toyota. Toyota's goal is to assure partnership with MWBE’s and to accomplish at least 20 percent total diversity spend with MWBE entities at all three locations.

”Toyota has been a leader in providing opportunities to minority businesses so they can grow and develop,” said David Burnley, Sr., CEO of Devon. “We, in turn, look to mentor and aid a diverse base of suppliers so they, too, can gain experience in the auto industry and pass that along to other small businesses.”

New headquarters will be set up in Plano for its North American operations as part of a series of moves designed to better serve customers and position the company for sustainable, long-term growth. 

Construction of all three facilities will begin in spring 2015. These moves will influence approximately 4,000 employees. The three separate North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing and corporate operations will relocate to a single, state-of-the-art campus in Plano. 

This action involves extending the Toyota Technical Center facilities in Southeast Michigan to accommodate increased investment in its engineering and product development capacity, and also opening a production engineering facility on the site of Toyota’s largest U.S. manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky. It is expected to be completed by 2017.

Feeling the street with Toyota in Global Street Music Campaign

Toyota Motor Corporation has launched something new, a global street music initiative called "Feeling the Street". The goal is to celebrate the boundless and perhaps undervalued talent of the world's best buskers. All around the world, you will be able to hear some of the best music being played on the street.

                                                                         

                                                     

The idea branches from the reality that some of the best music you'll ever hear is found on the street and being played by many talented and gifted people who love their art. Over the next nine weeks a competition will be held on www.feelingthestreet.com where street musicians can upload an original video that shows off their skills.

The videos include the artist playing an original song on a street location. People all over the world will be able to vote for the best by throwing virtual money into their respective virtual hats. By voting through the site, people will decide which six individuals they would like to see in a Global Street Band.

Only six artist will make the closing cut! From May to June 2015, the audience will have control over who they would like to see performing together in a band.

In June, when the winners have been chosen, they’ll be taken on a nationwide tour of New Zealand last 9 days, where they will end up performing a live showcase appearance on stage. Six lucky winners from the audience will also be chosen to join the street band on tour as roadies!

Find out more about #FeelTheStreet by following the official Twitter account @FeelingTheSt which will be updated with links to all the latest submissions.

http://www.toyota-global.com/events/feeling_the_street/

IOC Announces Toyota as Top Partner to 2024

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced it has entered into a sponsorship agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to become part of The Olympic Partner (TOP) program.

This announcement was marked at the ceremony in Tokyo, attended by IOC President Thomas Bach, IOC Marketing Commission Chairman Tsunekazu Takeda (Japanese Olympic Committee President), The Tokyo Organizing Committee of Olympic and Paralympic Games President Yoshiro Mori, Toyota President Akio Toyoda and other Toyota and IOC celebrities.

IOC President Thomas Bach and Toyota President Akio Toyoda have announced that Tokyo is the host city of the 2020 Olympic Games.

Toyota announced it has entered into a sponsorship agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to become part of The Olympic Partner (TOP) program. The arrangement runs through to the end of 2024 in the mobility category, which includes vehicles (passenger cars, urban mobility vehicles and commercial vehicles), mobility services and mobility resolutions.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Toyoda said: “We will do everything possible to fulfill our new role in The Olympic Partner program, and justify the trust the IOC has placed in us. The addition of a mobility category to the TOP Partner field is an important recognition for our entire industry. Under this Olympic flag, let us today reaffirm the power of sports to bring people together. And let us dedicate ourselves to creating a better world by promoting sports in the Olympic spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play.”

Bach said: “The IOC welcomes Toyota as a key partner for the provision of sustainable mobility solutions for the Olympic Games as outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020, our strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. Toyota is the world leader in its field, and this partnership signifies a strong commitment to the future of the IOC and the Olympic Movement. This is a milestone agreement in the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 because the focus of our cooperation is sustainable mobility, and Toyota will provide sustainable solutions for the entire Olympic Movement.”

Toyota Tops List of World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune Study

Automaker No. 24 in World’s Most Admired Company List

The annual list of the World’s Most Admired Companies from Fortune Magazine has named Toyota Motor Company to the top slot for the Motor Vehicle category. The automaker also points well in a larger pool of peers, No. 24 overall, one spot up from last year in both regards.

Fortune puts this list together based on the Hay Group examination of each of the finalist companies’ conduct each year. This is done with the assistance of more than 4,000 security analysts, executives and directors that choose their top ten companies that they admire from a pre made list.  Each company is measured through the survey, which is based on nine specific attributes that are considered crucial to the global success of a company. A few of these attributes include people management, quality of management, global competitiveness and social responsibility.

“We’d like to thank Toyota team members, associates and partners worldwide for helping us achieve this honor,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America chief executive officer. “We are dedicated to our customers, communities, and to leading the future of mobility. We’re proud to be recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies and a leader in our industry.”

Toyota Experimental New hybrid Semiconductor Material

It is said that the new testing technology in Toyota could make hybrids and other vehicles with electric powertrains more efficient. Using a "Camry" hybrid prototype and a fuel cell bus, Toyota Motor Corporation will bring a brand new technology to the streets of Japan for testing this year. The yearlong experiment in Japan will judge the performance of the new power semiconductors that use a silicon carbide (SiC) material, fitted to a Camry hybrid saloon prototype and a hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus.

Power semiconductors are found in the power control units that control the motor drive power in hybrids and other vehicles that use an electric powertrain. These units regulate the use of electricity, send power from the battery to the motors when the car is being driven, and recharge the battery with energy that’s accumulated when the car is stopping or decelerating.

The type of semiconductors used at present account for about 20% of a vehicle’s electrical losses, therefore making them more efficient is potentially a good way to increase the efficiency of the complete powertrain.

If we compare to the current silicon power semiconductors, the new, high-quality SiC type create less resistance when electricity flows through them.  This technology has been developed jointly by Toyota, Denso Corporation and Toyota Central R&D Labs, as a result of an extensive research and development project.

In the hybrid prototype, the automaker is installing SiC power semiconductors (transistors and diodes) in the PCU’s internal voltage step up converter and the inverter that controls the motor. It will collect data, including PCU voltage and current, driving speeds, patterns and conditions, such as outside temperature.

Comparing this information with data from the silicon semiconductors now in use, Toyota will evaluate the level of effectiveness improvement achieved.

The road test will take place mostly in Toyota City over a period of about a year from early February.

Toyota has recently started collecting operating data from a fuel cell bus that is in regular commercial operation in the city.

The information gained from the tests will be reflected in Toyota’s development program, with the goal of putting the technology to practical use as soon as possible.

http://www.electric-vehiclenews.com/2015/01/toyota-to-trial-new-sic-power.htm

Toyota breaks ground on New facility in Plano Texas Headquarters

With the help of a Tundra pickup truck equipped with a plow, Toyota’s North America CEO, Jim Lentz broke ground on the company’s new North American Headquarters in Plano.

The 1 million-square-foot campus will be located on a 100-acre plot of land off of Headquarters Drive and is expected to house nearly 4,000 employees as the company consolidates multiple corporate divisions of its operation. It’s a move Lentz said will help to better serve Toyota’s customers and the surrounding communities.

Toyota also revealed an installation during the ceremony: the word “TOYOTA” in large letters, standing 10 feet tall and 64 feet wide. Inside each letter are native Texan Yaupon Holly trees, which represent “wish” trees, a Japanese cultural tradition. Students and community participants also contributed to this event by adding handwritten notes to the trees representing their wishes, hopes, dreams and inspirations. The notes will be collected from the holly trees and placed into a time capsule at the new headquarters.

The trees will be planted forever once the Toyota headquarters is completed and will represent the long-standing friendship between Japan and the United States and the Company’s commitment to the Plano community.

“This is a day for new beginnings in Texas, and in that spirit we’re excited to break new ground,” Lentz said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We’re confident that this campus will reflect the values of our company and those of our new neighbors. ... We’ll continue to build a foundation for our relationship between Toyota, the city of Plano and all of the North Texas communities our team members and associates will very soon call home.”

 

“The support and encouragement we’ve received from the community, civic leaders, business partners and nearby corporations has been nothing short of tremendous,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America chief executive officer. “Our goal is to build an environmentally-sustainable campus that our new neighbors will welcome and our team members and associates will be proud to call home.”

“We believe in building close to where our customers are, it’s good for local economies, it’s good for communities and it’s great for our dealer partners,” Lentz said at the Chamber meeting. “Strong sales momentum and a recovering economy have positioned the auto industry, as well as Toyota, for six years of consecutive growth. At the same time, we strengthen our commitment to Plano, as our company, our team members and our associates ... grow in our new home. We’re poised to achieve Toyota’s vision of enriching society through building vehicles.”

The $350 million campus is being developed by KDC with the architectural firm Corgan, two Dallas-based companies. JLL will be the project manager of the development. According to Lentz, the campus will incorporate native vegetation that requires minimal watering on all its landscaping, and will use reclaimed water for watering. As an example, and a symbolic move, the company plans to plant six holly trees, which were adorned with the hopes and wishes of Plano ISD students at the ceremony.

Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere joined Lentz, addressing about 100 dignitaries and Toyota “Pioneers” – team members and associates who have already made the move to North Texas.

“Today’s groundbreaking event marks another milestone for the future of Toyota and the future of the City of Plano,” he said. “Toyota has already proven to be a great corporate citizen and neighbor and we look forward to the continued impact they will have not only on Plano but on the whole North Texas region.”

“Breaking ground in Plano is an exciting and tangible demonstration of the great progress we are making in bringing our major North American business affiliates and leaders together in one location for the first time,” said Mike Groff, President and CEO of Toyota Financial Services. “As we create this best place to work for our people, we will strengthen our ability to put customers first and make a meaningful difference in the communities we are privileged to serve.”

The plan is to open the new headquarters in late 2016 or early 2017.

Toyota Exhibit At 2015 Chicago Auto Show To Showcase All-New 2016 Tacoma And Eye-Popping Specialty Vehicles

Display at Chicago’s McCormick Place includes FT-1 concept, SpongeBob Sienna, TeenDrive365 distracted driving simulator, B.B. King’s guitar and future mobility concepts

The all-new 2016 Toyota Tacoma is coming to Chicago along with several eye-popping concepts and specialty vehicles that are sure to keep cameras clicking around the Toyota exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show. Toyota’s presentation at McCormick Place is designed for consumer engagement and interaction. It features a broad range of new and historic vehicle displays, future concepts, simulators and fun, playful one-of-a-kind rides that show consumers the broad scope of the world’s most progressive full-line automotive manufacturer.

Making news in the Toyota exhibit at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show is the all-new 2016 Toyota Tacoma, rebuilt inside and outside in every aspect. Inspired by desert racing, Toyota made the ’16 Tacoma all about recreational action and athletic agility. For MY2016, the Tacoma is available in five grades in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. The trim levels include the work-ready SR, iconic SR5, athletic TRD Sport, tough-as-nails TRD Off-Road and top-of-the-line Limited.  All models have front ends with a bold upper grille and a taller, more muscular hood.  

Also, Toyota’s Camry mid-size sedan, the best-selling car in America for the past 13 years, and Corolla compact sedan, the world’s best-selling car of all time, will debut special edition models at next week’s Chicago Auto Show.

The all new TeenDrive365 distracted driving simulator will be also displayed. It was launched in January and it educates teens and their parents about the dangers of distracted driving. Using Oculus Rift and a Toyota Corolla, the TeenDrive365 simulator is the first time that the next generation virtual reality technology is being used to bring the dangers of distracted driving to life. The simulator will be accessible free of charge to the public at the Chicago Auto Show and other Auto shows across the country.

Appearance at Chicago Auto show will make also the head-turning FT-1 concept car, which has captured the imagination of car enthusiasts since its debut last year. Visitors can take a virtual drive in the FT-1 in specially-designed simulators.

Parents and their children will flock to The SpongeBob Movie 2015 Toyota Sienna for pictures. The popular family hauler has been transformed into a 3-D concept car celebrating everyone’s absorbent pal. It features a custom three-dimensional SpongeBob SquarePants exterior, complete with the character’s Superhero Incredible mask that blows real bubbles at the top of the car.  The interior features seating inspired by each of SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom pals, along with a wood-grain dashboard, a custom Captain’s steering wheel, a blue-sky head liner and a sand-inspired floor.

Apart from all these, visitors will be able to see B.B. King’s guitar and jacket. Both props were used in the advertising campaign for the bold, new 2015 Toyota Camry that featured the blues legend. There is also a motorsports exhibit that presents Toyota’s involvement and success in NASCAR, and a heritage vehicle area that shows historic Toyota vehicles including an FJ25, a 1967 2000GT and the GTP Car #99.

Two concepts that suggest the possibilities of future mobility will also make a Chicago appearance, FV2 and i-ROAD.

"Toyota's exhibit at McCormick Place is unique to Chicago as we have the ability to combine a mix of various consumer engagement elements under one roof," said Don Johnson, Auto Show Engagement Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Visitors to the Chicago Auto Show will see the past, present and future of Toyota in a range of interactive exhibits and photogenic displays."

The Toyota exhibit is designed and constructed by George P. Johnson. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j39iTXlStz4

New driving simulator from Toyota, Oculus, bringing VR driving simulator for teens

At the Detroit Auto show, Toyota and Oculus launched its new TeenDrive365 distracted driving simulator with Oculus Rift. They are teaming up to make driving safer for teens. 

TeenDrive365’s simulator will put the wheel in teens’ hands and challenge drivers to properly use the pedals in a 3D environment. The joint attempt to bring a Toyota- branded driving simulator for Toyota’s TeenDrive365 program to the VR headset, which puts those learning to drive behind the wheel of a real car (stationary, of course), but uses VR to drown them in a driving environment. The ambition is for the teens to be more comfortable behind the wheel when they do venture onto the real road. TeenDrive365’s simulator challenges them to use the pedals and the wheel properly, while emitting realistic sounds of a busy city street in a 3D environment.

Oculus Rift also provides an approximately 100° field of view, stretching the virtual world beyond your peripheral vision.

“Oculus Rift provides a virtual reality driving experience that mirrors real life behind the wheel, giving us a powerful, one-of-a-kind way to show parents and teens how everyday distractions can affect their ability to drive safely,” said Marjorie Schussel, Corporate Marketing Director for Toyota. “This is the most innovative example of how we’re helping teens and parents become safer drivers together through our ongoing Toyota TeenDrive365 initiative.”

TeenDrive365 will also use RealSpace 3D Audio, which adds extent to sounds you might hear (sounds behind you sound like they’re behind you, not just faint).

Toyota says the partnership is “the first time the virtual reality technology is being used to educate the public – teens and parents alike – about the dangers of distracted driving”. This aims to educate teens and parents about driving safety. Virtual Reality is a smart method for educating teens about the dangers of driving, but accessibility is a concern.

The focus on parents as role models is based on research from a national study from Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) and UMTRI. The study found a significant correlation between how parents and their teens drive, suggesting that parents are the biggest influence on how a teen will behave behind the wheel.

Since the Toyota TeenDrive365’s launch in November 2013, millions of people have engaged with its online and in-person resources. More than 10,000 have experienced the first iteration of its driving simulator, with nearly 80 percent saying they would reduce distractions because of the experience. 

The simulator will be available free of charge to the public at auto shows across the country. For a full list of dates, visit www.Events.TeenDrive365.com.  

Toyota selects Cincinnati architect to design new facilities

Offices Will Use Renewable Energy, Recycle Water and Build Biodiversity

Toyota selected Cincinnati-based BHDP Architecture to design the automakers new facilities in Georgetown, Ky. and York Township, Michigan.

For promoting future product growth, Toyota declared last spring that it will expand its Technical Center in Michigan to accommodate the relocation of 250 direct procurement and supplier engineering development positions from Erlanger to its campus in York Township near Ann Arbor. In addition, nearly 300 Erlanger-based production engineering positions will relocate to a new facility at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky in Georgetown. Both moves will occur by early 2017.

Victor Vanov, a spokesman with Toyota, said BHDP Architecture stood out because of the firm's experience with sustainable building.

"That's a key reason they won the business," Vanov said.

Groundbreaking for both facilities will take place in spring 2015.

“Toyota identified key themes for these two new facilities,” says senior architect Tom Arends. “A work environment that’s sustainable, promotes collaboration, embraces diversity and builds a sense of excitement and accomplishment for team members with the ultimate vision of building always better cars. We are honored to work with Toyota to design a workplace that helps team members achieve desired results.”

 “We welcome BHDP Architecture and recognize their experience as an innovative leader focused on creating a workplace environment that aligns with our sustainability goals,” said Robin Haugen, general manager, Production Engineering at Toyota. “These new facilities will be regional role models using renewable energy, recycling water, building biodiversity, and increasing the amount of low volatile organic compounds and recycled material within the construction.”

While Toyota is relocating its North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing to a single North American operations headquarters in Plano, Texas in 2017, the automaker will still have more than 7,000 employees in Kentucky. These operations are a part of series of moves designed to better serve customers and position the company for continual, long-term growth. Later this year, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky will start production of the Lexus ES in Georgetown, which is Toyota's largest U.S. manufacturing plant.