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Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has celebrated the 40th anniversary of its North American research and development operations alongside an important milestone, as the company officially opened its expanded Toyota Motor North American Research & Development (TMNA R&D) Purchasing and Prototype Development centers in York Township, Michigan last Thursday.
Recall that three years ago, the Japanese carmaker announced its “One Toyota” plan to create more unified operations in North America with a $154 million expansion of the TMNA R&D centres in Michigan. The investment moved direct procurement and supplier engineering development talent from Erlanger, Kentucky, and vehicle development and powertrain from California. These moves reaffirmed Toyota’s commitment to driving more local decision making and ultimately faster, more precise response to the needs of the marketplace.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our continued investment in Michigan, which contributes to our overall long-standing commitment to investing in America,” said Jim Lentz, CEO, Toyota Motor North America. “Expanding the Research and Development Campus in York Township is an incredible next step in Toyota’s journey in the United States.”
The TMNA R&D campus supports the One Toyota commitment to the environment through sustainable, environmentally-sensitive and state-of-the-art design, materials, features and efficiencies like low-flow faucets for water conservation. The commitment to sustainability is also found in conservation measures, such as LED lighting, high-efficiency building shells and exterior landscaping using indigenous plants such as Michigan strawberries. Finally, the TMNA R&D Supplier Center has applied for the new LEED Version 4. If appr
Community Commitment
To demonstrate Toyota’s continued commitment to Michigan, the company announced $200,000 in grants to several organizations in Washtenaw County: Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels, Growing Hope, Ypsilanti Consolidated School District and Dixboro Road Shared Use Trail. The Dixboro Road Shared Use Trail is a hiking and biking trail that will connect Parker Mill County Park and the Border-to-Border Trail with Matthaei Botanical Gardens. TMNA R&D was also pleased to present a Toyota Tundra truck to York Township.
