Toyota Motor Corporation bersiap sedia untuk Idemitsu Super Endurance Southeast Asia Trophy 2023, perlumbaan ketahanan 10 jam yang dijadualkan pada 22-23 Disember di Chang International Circuit di Thailand.
Tiga kenderaan dari Rookie Racing Toyota termasuk konsep inovatif seperti ORC Rookie GR86 CNF yang dikuasakan oleh bahan api karbon neutral, ORC Rookie GR Corolla H2 dengan Corolla bertenaga hidrogen, dan CP Rookie Prius CNF-HEV GR, sebuah Prius HEV yang berfungsi dengan bahan api karbon neutral. Ini menandakan penyertaan pertama Toyota dengan Prius HEV pengeluaran.
Perlumbaan ini juga menampilkan tiga kenderaan dari pasukan Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand yang berfungsi dengan bahan api karbon neutral. Toyota bertujuan untuk memperluaskan pilihan sukan permotoran karbon neutral dengan bekerjasama dengan rakan-rakan Asia, menekankan komitmen terhadap masyarakat karbon neutral.
Toyota Motor Corporation has introduced a brand-new Century model and is now open for orders starting today. This latest addition to their lineup is set to hit the market in 2023, alongside the continued availability of the Century sedan.
The Century made its debut in 1967 as Toyota’s premier chauffeur-driven car. For over five decades, the Century has been the preferred choice for chauffeur-driven transportation in Japan. It epitomizes an unparalleled spirit of “omotenashi” or hospitality, ensuring that its esteemed passengers enjoy a comfortable journey to their destinations.
Adhering to “The Chauffeur” concept, the new model has transformed into a chauffeur car that remains dedicated to fulfilling customer expectations in the years ahead. It diligently carries forward the essence, dignity, serenity, and ride comfort that befit the legacy of the Century.
The new Century retains classic chauffeur-driven car proportions, with a rearward center of gravity. Its design is inspired by the loom shuttle motif and incorporates kichomen chamfering to define the door panels, creating a unique Century aesthetic.
The new Land Cruiser “250” Series has officially been presented to the world by Toyota Motor Corporation.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958
The Land Cruiser series, which debuted as the Toyota BJ on August 1, 1951, is now 72 years old. It was the first vehicle to reach Mount Fuji’s sixth station immediately after launch. Since then, it has succeeded in bringing protection and security to a variety of individuals in locations that can only be accessible by a Land Cruiser.
Toyota has announced that it plans to step up in the EV market with the introduction of 10 new EV models by 2026.
Vice President of Toyota Motor, Hiroki Nakajima, announced that by 2026, Toyota plans to release 10 new EV models which would amount to about 1.5 million vehicles in sales annually.
Newly elected Koji Sato, the President and CEO of Toyota Motor is concerned about the unimpressive performance in Toyota’s sales of EV and pledged to pursue electrification “in a practical manner,” matching the carmaker’s product line up to the demands of particular regions.
UMW Toyota Motor, a joint-venture company between UMW and Toyota Motor Corporation, today announced the appointment of Takashi Obata as its new Deputy Chairman. Mr. Obata takes over from Akio Takeyama, who has completed his term in the position and has spent a total of 12 years in Malaysia (including an earlier assignment).
Mr. Obata has 30 years of experience in Toyota Motor Corporation as a key member in the company’s Product Planning in Sales & Operation Planning divisions. Prior to his new position, he was in charge of the product planning of various Toyota-brand models for the global market.
Bringing his vast experience and vision for the future of mobility, Mr. Obata commits to driving UMW Toyota Motor to innovate and adapt to CASE (Connected cars, Autonomous driving, Shared, and Electric) and carbon neutrality.
“Technology is progressively evolving with the increasing necessity and responsibility to adapt to CASE, as well as carbon neutrality. This is a priority that is aggressively being pursued by Toyota globally and has already started in Malaysia with the recent launch of the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid model. I am honoured to have been entrusted this role to navigate the Toyota business here in Malaysia towards this direction alongside UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K,” said Mr. Obata, thanking his predecessor for leaving behind ‘an incredible legacy during his time with the company’.
“This role will undoubtedly be a challenging one, but I am confident that we will be able to achieve many more milestones in the years to come, especially with the strong support from the government of Malaysia and all our stakeholders,” he added.
Reflecting on his time with UMW Toyota Motor, Mr. Takeyama said that in the 12 years, he had two key phrases which he always kept in mind: ‘Reborn’ and ‘Change & Challenge’. “My time here in Malaysia was spent in pursuit of ever-better cars and the best customer services while continuously contributing to the Malaysian automobile industry. The years I have spent in this beautiful country were truly wonderful and exciting, filled with so many significant events, milestones, challenges and accomplishments. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the strong support from my team and all our stakeholders,” he said.
In the past few years, Mr. Takeyama also went racing as a regular participant in all 4 seasons of the successful Vios Challenge one-make race.
Under the leadership of Mr. Takeyama, UMW Toyota Motor has achieved many significant milestones including the launch of its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Bukit Raja< Selangor which is now recognized as the No.1 quality and productivity Toyota plant in Asia; restructuring of the sales and service network throughout Malaysia; the introduction of GAZOO Racing and reclaiming its title as the No.1 non-national automotive brand after 6 years as well as successfully introducing many new Toyota models.
Mr. Takeyama will also be remembered for his personal interest in motorsports, to the extent that he also took part in every season of the successful Vios Challenge one-make series. With his enthusiastic support and guidance, the GAZOO Racing brand gained prominence in Malaysia earlier than other countries in the region.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Takeyama-san for all our achievements during his tenure, the result of which is many happy and satisfied Toyota customers. It has truly been an honour to work alongside him. With his passion and automotive brilliance, he has indeed inspired many and leaves behind an incredible legacy. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” said Mr. Ravindran.
In the early years after Toyota Motor Corporation was established, there was an incident where a company using a Toyota G1 lorry contacted a dealer to get assistance because it broke down. It so happened that Kiichiro Toyoda, founder of Toyota, heard about the matter at the same time and personally led a team of engineers to where the dealer’s service staff were repairing the vehicle. Besides providing assistance, the engineers wanted to find out what has caused the breakdown. They had their answer and quickly relayed it back to the factory where alterations were made to prevent the same problem from occurring.
A re-enactment of the episode where Toyota engineers personally went to investigate a breakdown with one of their customer’s lorries.
In the years and decades to follow, this episode would serve to demonstrate the importance and value of ‘Genchi Genbutsu’, a Japanese phrase which is a way of thinking where information is gained and decisions made based on personal viewing of the problem, not just relying on reports by others. Seeing or experiencing the problem firsthand is deemed the best way to get to the source of what was wrong. “When a problem arises, the shortest route to final resolution is to return to the source and pinpoint what is truly wrong,” was the constant reminder from Toyoda.
‘Genchi Genbutsu’ is partly what the Toyota 5 Continents Drive Project is all about; as the name indicates, the drive goes through 5 continents of the world, enabling Toyota personnel to see and experience the different conditions and cultures where Toyota sells its vehicles. It’s not been a continuous drive since 2014 when it started in Australian but has been a yearly exercise, with Asia being the last continent.
Inspired by Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, the 5 Continents Drive Project aims to make product improvements with a more deeply informed approach, ultimately delivering ever-better cars to customers around the world.
The Toyota 5 Continents Drive has covered 4 continents – Australia, North America, Africa and South America – since starting in 2014.
The total distance travelled since 2014 has been approximately 103,000 kms. Data collected has already been flowing back to Toyota City, with improvements made in various areas as a result of the participants understanding issues. Toyota employees travelling in many different countries on 4 continents prior to Asia have had experiences and gained knowledge that cannot be gained simply from driving cars on test courses or simulated in climatic chambers.
There have not just been improvements for products but also in manufacturing and white-collar management areas such as logistics, costing, etc. Although the Toyota 5 Continents Drive Project will conclude next year, this is ongoing process and learnings will continue to be implemented into future models as well, thus promoting sustainable development.
Recently, the convoy of vehicles for the Asian leg travelled through Malaysia after having started in the Middle East in February this year and then passing through India. It is the first part of the Asian leg which will conclude next year when Japan hosts the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Akio Takeyama, Chief Motorsports Officer and also the Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor, flagged off the convoy from S&D Tama, an authorized Toyota dealership in Penang. There were 9 Toyota vehicles in this leg of the 5 Continents Drive Project – Hilux, Fortuner, Innova, Vios, Corolla, Rush, CH-R and Yaris.
The vehicles used for the Malaysian leg were those currently available in the market.
“We are delighted that Malaysia is included in the Toyota 5 Continents Drive Project, a project that is of high priority to Toyota Motor Corporation,” said Mr. Takeyama. “The varied conditions of roads and traffic should provide the participants with valuable insights that can help them develop ever-better cars for our customers.”
The route included a drive up the steep slopes of Cameron Highlands, providing an experience of the different humidity levels in the country as well as the road conditions. The convoy then continued south to Singapore with a stop at Shah Alam, Selangor, where UMW Toyota Motor’s head office is located. The participants were briefed on the company’s background, activities, customer profiles, local market conditions and GAZOO Racing (GR) initiatives in Malaysia. After the Malaysian leg ended, the convoy crossed over to Singapore. The remaining countries for the Asian leg are Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
“Toyota has always made reliable cars but today’s customers have more demands, so ‘good’ is no longer enough and we need to offer great cars,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor. “The Toyota 5 Continents Drive Project should help towards developing ever-better cars.”
The 5 Continents Drive Project is carried out under the umbrella of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing initiatives. In Malaysia, the GR Brand is one of the key pillars for brand messaging which includes the Toyota GR Festival, GR Velocity Esports Championship and the recently-introduced GR Garage concept. Malaysia is the first country outside of Japan to adopt this concept for specifically showcasing GR models like the all-new Supra and related products.
To know more about Toyota vehicles available in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my .
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) has announced a realignment of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in line with the global corporate initiative called ‘Start Your Impossible’ established by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).
This shift by TMC is carried out to inspire employees, partners and customers to achieve greater heights by attempting missions that they themselves deem impossible – a core company belief that has inspired boundless innovations, transforming the company from that of an automotive to a mobility manufacturer.
Through the new CSR realignment, UMWT has added a mission to realize impossible dreams through sports in its philanthropic pillar. “This year, we will be working with the Paralympic Council of Malaysia to enable more differently abled children to participate actively in sports,” said UMWT’s Deputy Chairman, Akio Takeyama.
Fund-raiser in November
The initiative, Mr. Takeyama said, will begin with a fund-raiser through a Toyota Outrun fun run on November 17, 2019 at Bandar Rimbayu, Kota Kemuning, Selangor. UMWT expects about 3,000 participants to join in the event. A registration fee of RM50 per participant will apply and the proceeds will be channeled to Paralympic Council of Malaysia’s ‘Fitness and Exercise with Person with Disabilities’ programme.
“The funds will be used to equip para athlete trainers around Klang Valley with the skills to train differently abled children. We believe that this would be a sustained effort to discover more hidden talents among children with disability and help them achieve their dream in sports,” Mr. Takeyama added.
Abdul Latif Romly (thrid from left), ambassador for the campaign, with UMWT’s management and representatives from other organisations which will be involved in the CSR initiatives.
Abdul Latif Romly to be campaign ambassador
UMWT has also appointed Paralympic Champion Abdul Latif Romly as its ambassador for this campaign. On the appointment, Mr. Takeyama said: “Latif was up against impossible odds at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. The world saw him broke the T20 long jump world record three times on the same day. It was impossible. Then it wasn’t. At Toyota, mobility is about overcoming challenges and making dreams a reality. That’s why we’re teaming up with Latif to support differently abled children so they too can start their impossible”.
UMWT will also be continuing its other CSR initiatives such as the Toyota Classics, which have brought world-class orchestras for the past 30 years to perform in Malaysia. A total of about RM9 million in gross proceeds from the concerts over the years has been donated to some 70 social, environment and charity organizations to support worthy programs.
Providing ‘Mobility for All‘ is something Toyota Motor Corporation takes seriously. It is demonstrating this in its role as worldwide partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, specifically the one which will take place in Tokyo in 2020.
Besides various forms of transport that it has developed for different groups at the event, it is developing a special new product known as the Accessible People Mover (APM). This is a mobility vehicle designed expressly for use at the Games.
‘Last mile solution’
The APM will offer a ‘last one mile’ solution that helps transport as many people as possible to events and venues. These include athletes and staff related to the Games as well as all types of visitors with accessibility needs such as the elderly, people with impairments, pregnant women, and families with small children, among others. Part of the fleet of APMs, to number around 200 in total, will be used to support relief activities at events/venues during summer.
There will be two versions – a Basic Model and one with Relief specifications. The Basic Model will be for general transportation and feature 3-row seating. Up to 5 passengers can be carried and when used for passengers in wheelchairs, the configuration can be modified by folding the seats to allow the wheelchair rider in the second row.
Safety, comfort and convenience
With safety in mind, the position of the driver’s seat has been elevated and centrally located in order to allow the driver to see passengers and support their individual needs as they enter/exit the vehicle which is about 2 metres high.
The passenger seats are accessible from both sides of the vehicle, and the overall design considers varying customers’ needs, with safety bars on both sides to help passengers while entering and exiting the vehicle, and fitted with wheelchair anchor plates and ramps to enable the optimal access and transportation of wheelchair passengers.
The Relief specification is similar but has more open space to install a stretcher. In addition, to help convey people in a stable, safe way, a stretcher that can be attached/secured in the vehicle will also be equipped. There will also be space to allow 2 relief staff workers to sit immediately adjacent to the stretcher.
Needless to say, the APM – which has dimensions that are similar to a Toyota Avanza – will operate with zero emissions using a battery electric powertrain that should also be quiet. It can travel at a speed up to 19 km/h and a full charge should provide 100 kms of range.
