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Toyota Fast Facts | Central City Toyota

Toyota Fast Facts is an update on Toyota and industry news. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends. For more news, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

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April 12th, 2011

The Environmental Protection Agency Recognizes Toyota for its Commitment Environmental Excellence

ERLANGER, Ky. (April 12, 2011) –  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), with its 2011 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency and management. TEMA received the award at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. today.
 
"TEMA has earned EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award - the 2011 Sustained Excellence Award,” said Elizabeth Craig, acting director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. “TEMA’s long term leadership and commitment to energy efficiency demonstrates the types of accomplishments that we can all achieve in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our global environment. We look forward to their continued partnership and leadership.”
 
Today’s recognition marks TEMA’s seventh consecutive award. In addition, TEMA has partnered with the EPA to fulfill its commitment of environmental excellence across its manufacturing facilities in the United States. 
 
“Our objective is to manufacture vehicles in harmony with the environment which takes a great level of responsibility and commitment,” said Robin Haugen, TEMA’s production engineering general manager. “It is thanks to our team members’ daily efforts that we are able to reduce our carbon footprint with every vehicle that rolls off our manufacturing lines year after year.” 
 
Examples of energy improvements at TEMA’s manufacturing facilities include:
 
  • Reducing total energy use by 13 percent per vehicle produced since FY2002 while expanding and adding new facilities;
  • Reducing water usage by 18 percent per vehicle produced since FY2001 through no-cost and low-cost improvements;
Energy improvements at Toyota manufacturing facilities have saved more than $20 million annually and reduced CO2 emission by almost 150,000 metric tons, equal to 19,000 homes.
 
Since 2006, Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing operations have received 18 Energy Star Plant Awards from the U.S. EPA, recognizing each plant’s energy performance over the past year and scoring in the top 25 percent of its industry.
 
The 2011 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
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April 12th, 2011

Scion tC Receives Five Star Overall Rating for Crash Tests

TORRANCE, Calif.  (April 12, 2011) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the all-new 2011 Scion tC sports coupe, a top overall rating of five stars.  
The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a consumer information program created by NHTSA, rates vehicles to determine crash and rollover safety. The test ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests conducted at the NHTSA research facilities. The announcement was released on the NHTSA website www.safercar.gov.
All Scion models meet or exceed the safety requirements of the federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The tC comes standard with a total of eight supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags including driver and front passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front-passenger knee airbag, and side curtain airbags.
All 2011 tCs come standard with Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Smart Stop Technology (SST). 
Additional safety features include a tire pressure monitoring system and newly adopted active front headrests.
The all-new Scion tC, which went on sale in October 2010, has an impressive list of standard features including, 180 horsepower, 6-speed transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 300-watt 8-speaker audio system.

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April 6th, 2011

Microsoft and Toyota Announce Strategic Partnership on Next-Generation Telematics

REDMOND, Wash., and TOYOTA CITY, Japan — April 6, 2011 Microsoft Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) today announced they have forged a strategic partnership and plan to build a global platform for TMC’s next-generation telematics services using the Windows Azure platform. Telematics is the fusing of telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles; it can encompass GPS systems, energy management and other multimedia technologies.

As part of the partnership, the two companies plan to participate in a 1 billion yen (approximately $12 million) investment in Toyota Media Service Co., a TMC subsidiary that offers digital information services to Toyota automotive customers. The two companies aim to help develop and deploy telematics applications on the Windows Azure platform, which includes Windows Azure and Microsoft SQL Azure, starting with TMC’s electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012. TMC’s goal is to establish a complete global cloud platform by 2015 that will provide affordable and advanced telematics services to Toyota automotive customers around the world.

As part of its smart-grid activities, aimed at achieving a low-carbon society through efficient energy use, TMC is conducting trials in Japan of its Toyota Smart Center pilot program, which plans to link people, automobiles and homes for integrated control of energy consumption. TMC believes that, as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles become more popular, such systems will rely more on telematics services for achieving efficient energy management.

Microsoft has a long history of delivering platforms and services to the automotive market, including in-car infotainment systems built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, in-car mapping services with Bing and the Microsoft Tellme voice application, and many other consumer solutions.

“Today’s announcement of our partnership with TMC is a great example of how we continue to invest in the automotive industry and of our commitment to power the services that are important to consumers,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “It further validates the power of the cloud, as the Windows Azure platform will provide the enterprise-grade, scalable platform that TMC needs to deliver telematics in its automobiles worldwide.”
 

“This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world. Creating these more efficient, more environmentally advanced products will be our contribution to society,” said Akio Toyoda, president of TMC. “To achieve this, it is important to develop a new link between vehicles, people and smart center energy-management systems.”
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March 30th, 2011

The Latest on Japan Relief and Recovery Efforts

NEW YORK, NY (March 30, 2011, Posted at 3:30 PM EDT) On behalf of everyone at Toyota, we want to thank you for your deep outpouring of concern and support regarding the tragedy in Japan.  While there have been no reported injuries at Toyota’s operations, the lives of many of our colleagues – and millions of others across Japan – have been affected greatly.  

This weekend Toyota launched “Hope for Japan,” a website where visitors can contribute to the American Red Cross relief efforts and share a personal message of hope. We encourage you to visit the site and show your support at www.toyota.com/supportforjapan.

Below is a short update on some of the additional steps Toyota is taking in North America and Japan to help support the relief efforts.

Fundraising – More than $5 Million So Far

  • Toyota-Dedicated Red Cross Fundraising Websites Have Raised Nearly $1.5 Million in North America  – As of March 25th, special fundraising websites set up with the Red Cross have raised nearly $1.5 million from Toyota’s employees, dealers, suppliers, business partners and friends across North America. 
  • Dollar-for-Dollar Match – Toyota’s North American affiliates are matching donations made by Toyota employees to the American Red Cross and Canadian Red Cross, dollar-for-dollar.  (The employee match is not included in the figure above.)
  • Donation in Japan – In addition, Toyota in Japan has donated 300 million yen (about $3.75 million) to support the relief efforts.
  • Other Major Fundraising – Walk-a-thons last weekend in San Antonio, TX and Lexington, KY brought out hundreds of Toyota team members and other local citizens, raising nearly $60,000 for the relief efforts in Japan.
Relief Efforts in Japan
 
  • Relief Convoys in Japan Continue – Toyota companies in Japan began sending truckloads of medical and emergency supplies – including food, drinking water, blankets, portable toilets and disposable diapers – to victims in affected regions on March 12, the day after the earthquake and tsunami. As of March 30th, more than 60 trucks have made deliveries and six tankers have been sent to provide water.
     
  • Emergency Housing – Toyota is moving to provide nearly 500 apartments in Aichi Prefecture for people evacuated from affected areas.
     
  • Vehicles for Relief Efforts – Toyota is providing about 100 cars for local government authorities to use in four of the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
     
  • Distribution of Emergency Supplies – Toyota dealerships in affected areas of Japan are using their sites as temporary distribution centers for drinking water, food, cold-weather gear and towels to victims of the disaster.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our friends, our colleagues and the people of Japan.  We’ll be sure to provide updates as they become available.
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March 29th, 2011

Akio Toyoda Statement: To All Those Affected by the Tohoku Earthquake

NEW YORK, NY (March 29, 2011, Posted at 10:00 AM EDT) On March 27, Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda visited the region of Japan most affected by the earthquake/tsunami, then issued a statement of support, followed by a commitment by the company to donate 50 vehicles to support relief efforts in the area. Here’s Akio’s personal message to people in the damaged area:

To All Those Affected by the Tohoku Earthquake

I offer my prayers to all those who lost their lives in the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and its ensuing aftermath, as well as my sympathy to the survivors and their families.

Not only is the struck region one of our production bases, those directly hit and vastly affected include our dealers, suppliers and numerous other partners.

I went to Miyagi Prefecture on March 27.  Seeing the devastation with my own eyes brought home to me the depth of destruction and the atmosphere of sadness caused by the disaster.  Seeing the situation for myself made me more determined to continue to provide useful support.

I visited government offices in Ohira Village and in Taiwa Town, which have supported our business activities in their locales.  I also went to Sendai Port, to our dealerships and to our factories that produce vehicles and parts.

Although time was limited, through visiting the affected area and seeing people there trying step-by-step to get over the agony of their losses, I became strongly determined to return smiles to the faces of the people in the Tohoku region by reviving manufacturing there as soon as possible.

We believe that returning as quickly as possible to daily life can play an important part in bringing the hope of a better tomorrow at our plants, our team members once again working together, supporting each other and creating a positive atmosphere and, at our dealerships, warm and friendly staff once again welcoming customers.

We at Toyota will continue doing all we can to be of assistance to the people affected.

Akio Toyoda, President
Toyota Motor Corporation
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March 17th, 2011

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Comments on J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study

TORRANCE, Calif., March 17, 2011 – J.D. Power and Associates today announced the results from their 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), covering 2008 model year vehicles. The following comments on the VDS can be attributed to Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc.
 
“Vehicle owners have spoken in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study and once again Toyota is the full-line manufacturer with the most awards.  TMS continues to be a mark of consistency in this all-important study as Lexus has now scored among the top three nameplates in every year of eligibility and Toyota has been in the top five among non-luxury manufacturers since 1990.
 
"Of the numerous independent studies conducted each year, the J.D. Power VDS is one Toyota feels is among the most important as it reflects real-world, long-term vehicle quality and dependability.  More than ever, consumers are considering durability as a key component in their vehicle purchase decision and these awards are one more key indicator that Toyota continues to take the lead.”
 
Highlights from J.D. Power and Associates’ VDS include:
  • Toyota and Lexus received seven highest ranking awards – more than any other brand.
  • The Tundra full-size pickup topped its segment for the sixth year in a row, while the Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid sedan, 4Runner midsize Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), Sienna midsize van, and Tacoma pickup truck each topped their respective segments. 
  • The Lexus RX luxury sport utility vehicle (Total) ranked highest in its segment; midsize premium crossover/SUV. 
  • Ten other Toyota, Scion and Lexus models ranked in the top three of their segment including Toyota Yaris sub-compact (Total), Toyota Matrix cross-over utility vehicle (CUV), Toyota RAV4 compact SUV, Toyota Solara midsize coupe, Toyota Sequoia full-size SUV, Scion tC sports coupe, Lexus GS luxury sport (Total), LS luxury sedan (Total), GX 470 luxury utility vehicle, and Lexus ES 350 entry luxury sedan. 
TMS Segment Award Recipients
VEHICLE
PP100
SEGMENT
Toyota Prius
97
Compact Car
Toyota 4Runner
103
Midsize MAV
Toyota Tacoma
109
Midsize Pickup
Toyota Sienna
150
Midsize Van
Toyota Tundra
118
Large Pickup
Lexus RX
101
Midsize Premium MAV
Scion xB
142
Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle
 
Other examples of Toyota’s commitment to excellence, quality products and customer satisfaction include: 
  • Seventeen Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles were named  “most reliable” of which 12 made the “recommended” list, more in both categories than any other automaker, by a leading national consumer publication. 
  • Lexus owner loyalty remains the highest among luxury brands, according to internal studies.
  • Eight Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles (Avalon, Corolla, Venza, Highlander, Sienna, RX, tC, & xB) received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2011 Top Safety Pick Award.
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March 16th, 2011

Updated Toyota Statement Regarding Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

NEW YORK, NY (March 16, 2011; Posted at 3:15 PM EDT) Regarding Toyota's North American operations, so far the impact is limited. All 13 North American vehicle and engine plants are running normally, although overtime has been curtailed for now to assure we maintain adequate inventories of parts that come from Japan. In addition, since most parts and materials for Toyota's North American-built vehicles are provided by suppliers in North America, this helps insulate Toyota's North American plants from production interruptions in Japan.
 
Regarding dealerships in the US, inventories are good with adequate levels of supply.  Toyota now makes 12 different models in North America, including high-volume vehicles such as Camry, Corolla, RAV4, and Lexus RX 350, and nearly 70 percent of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the U.S. are made in North America.  Prius vehicles are built in Japan, and thus impacted more by the production halt there. But for now inventory levels of the Prius at U.S. dealerships are generally still adequate.
 
Regarding battery production in Japan, while future production plans are to be determined, only one of three hybrid battery plants in Japan sustained limited damage from the earthquake. The other two plants are located in central Japan and were not affected. The company is making every effort to minimize any long-term impact on Prius availability.
 
Meanwhile, Toyota employees in the U.S. are very interested in contributing to relief efforts in Japan. To make their support go further, Toyota Affiliates in the U.S. will match their personal relief donations to the American Red Cross.
 
This is in addition to Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan donating 300 million yen (approximately $3.75 million) to support relief efforts.
 
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
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March 11th, 2011

Toyota Statement Regarding Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

Toyota's associates and team members in North America extend our heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences to the people of Japan, our colleagues and their families.
Currently, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has established a company-wide emergency task force to assess the situation and take initial measures.
As of now, Toyota has confirmed that there have been no injuries at the Tokyo head office, as well as the Higashifuji, Tochigi office, Yamanashi office, and Toyota Motor Tohoku facilities.
We are continuing to gather information on our other operations in Japan.
All TMC plants have restarted production.
The plants that have stopped production are Toyota subsidiary plants that produce parts and vehicles, including:
  • Toyota Motor Hokkaido Plant
  • Toyota Motor Tohoku Plant
  • Central Motor Corporation Miyagi Plant, which also produces the Yaris model.
  • Kanto Auto Works Iwate Plant, which also produces the Scion xB and Scion xD.
Employees at these facilities have been evacuated to safe areas.
We are also currently assessing the situation at our suppliers, dealers and the impact on North American import vehicles.
Toyota’s number one priority is to support our employees at TMC, our partner companies, suppliers and dealers through this situation.
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
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March 4th, 2011
200,000-Mile Toyota Prius Keeps on Going
Recent tests and owner surveys by Consumer Reports indicate that Prius owners don't need to worry too much about replacing their vehicle's battery pack after a few thousand miles. CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/) reports that the magazine recently tested a Prius with 207,000 miles on it. The car was still in the hands of its original owner so editors were confident the car had been maintained reasonably well, driven normally and, most importantly, still had its original battery pack. The warranty on a Prius battery pack is good for 8 years or 100,000 miles. To find out what 207,000 city and highway miles had done to the car's hybrid batteries, Consumer Reports engineers put the aged Prius through the same series of performance and fuel economy tests they administer to new cars. Then they compared the results to those of a virtually identical Prius that had been tested when it was new. The 200,000-plus-mile Prius performed almost exactly the same as a comparable new Prius. Overall fuel economy, city and highway combined, suffered by just two-tenths of a mile per gallon. Click here to watch video coverage of the Prius. For more on the reliability of Prius' battery pack in the long run, click here (http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/04/autos/toyota_prius_battery_life/index.htm).
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March 1st, 2011

Toyota Takes 10 Vincentric 'Best Value in America' Awards Including Best Overall Passenger Car

TORRANCE, Calif., March 1, 2011 - - Toyota led all manufacturers with 10 winners in the 7th annual Vincentric’s Best Value in America awards for the 2011 model year.  Toyota’s award total was twice as many as the runner-up brand and represented nearly one-quarter of all awards selected.
Vincentric determines its Best Value in America awards based on cost-of-ownership by measuring eight different cost factors: depreciation, fuel, insurance, opportunity cost, financing, maintenance, taxes and state fees, and repairs. 
The 10 segment winners were highlighted by Toyota receiving the brand level award for the passenger car segment, in addition to its nine model-specific awards. The remaining nine model-specific segment awards captured by Toyota included:
• 4Runner – SUV, Mid-Size (third year in a row)
• Avalon – Large (six-time winner)
• Camry Hybrid – Mid-Size Hybrid Sedan
• FJ Cruiser – SUV, Compact
• Highlander Hybrid – SUV, Mid-Size Hybrid
• Land Cruiser – SUV, Mid-Size Premium (fourth year in a row)
• Prius – Compact, Advanced Fuel Technology (six-time winner)
• Tacoma – Compact Pickup (seventh year in a row…more than any other vehicle)
• Venza – Crossover, Mid-Size (two-time winner)
Vincentric, LLC is a privately held automotive data compilation and analysis firm headquartered in Bingham Farms, Mich.  The company provides data, knowledge, and insight to the automotive industry by identifying and applying many aspects of automotive value.  Using Vinbase™, its comprehensive, proprietary cost-of-ownership database, Vincentric measures and analyzes the overall cost of owning and operating vehicles and its impact on the value provided to buyers.
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March 1st, 2011

Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program Puts the Public in the Driver's Seat of a Corporate Philanthropic Effort

100 Nonprofits from Across the Country to Receive a Toyota Vehicle Based on Public Votes
 
• 100 vehicles will be given away over 100 days based on daily voting on Toyota’s Facebook page, //www.facebook.com/toyota
• Registered 501c(3) organizations are invited to apply online and tell us how they plan to use the vehicle to do good in their community
• Applications will be accepted beginning March 7, 2011
 
TORRANCE, CALIF. (March 1, 2011) – Toyota today announced its “100 Cars for Good” program, which will award 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public.
 
Beginning March 7, 2011, registered 501c(3) non-profit organizations can apply online through Toyota’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/toyota for a chance to win a Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna, or Sienna Mobility. A six-year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle awarded. Applications submitted by March 21, 2011 will be reduced to 500 finalist organizations that will be in the running to win a vehicle.  These final organizations will be selected by an independent panel of judges who are experts in the fields of philanthropy and social responsibility. Finalists can submit videos, create their own online profiles and rally their friends and supporters to encourage voting for their organization.
 
Public voting begins on May 9 and will take place for 100 consecutive days. Each day, five organizations will be profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page and voters may vote for the charity they feel is most deserving of the vehicle. A vehicle will be awarded each day through August 16 for a total of 100 vehicles. Voters may place one vote per day, each day, over the course of the program.
 
100 Cars for Good is the first Toyota initiative that engages the public to determine how corporate philanthropic donations will be awarded.
 
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February 11th, 2011
  
Media Second-Guesses the Media on Toyota ‘Runaway’ Coverage
After NASA found no evidence that electronics were to blame for alleged unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, some news outlets concluded this week that Toyota received a bum rap from the media, consumer safety advocates and politicians during the past year. To read a sampling of the articles, please click on the following links:

“Toyota: The Media Owe You an Apology,” Bloomberg Businessweek: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2011/bw20110210_848076.htm.

“We Were Right. Toyota Vindicated,” Louisville Public Policy Examiner : http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-louisville/we-were-right-toyota-vindicated.

“The Safety Police Go After Toyota Again,” Fortune: http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/10/autos/toyota_acceleration_investigation_consumer_advocates.fortune/index.htm.

“Toyota’s Recall Crisis: What Have We Learned?”
//blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/02/toyotas_recall_crisis_full_of.html
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October 26, 2010   

1. Consumer Reports Reinstates Recommendations on Eight Recalled Toyotas

Consumer Reports announced today that it is reinstating the recommendations for eight Toyota models that were recalled in January. “We believe that Toyota has adequately addressed the problem of unintended acceleration and that its new vehicles on sale now are fundamentally safe,” the consumer organization said in a blog on its web site. The move means the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia and Tundra are all now on the Consumer Reports “recommended list”. The move coincides with the strong performance of Toyota, Scion and Lexus products on Consumer Reports Annual Car Survey (see story below).

To read the blog, please visit:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/10/consumer-reports-reinstates-recommendations-on-eight-toyotas.html.
2. Toyota Dominates Consumer Reports Reliability Survey and Recommendations

Toyota dominated the highly respected Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey with 17 Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles being ranked as “most reliable” and 12 making the “recommended” list, more in both categories than any other automaker. Overall, Scion ranked No. 1 in the survey, with the Toyota and Lexus nameplates ranking in the top 9.

The reliability findings are based on responses to a survey this spring of 1.3 million vehicles owned or leased by Consumer Reports magazine or web site subscribers. Its recommendations are based on the reliability survey rankings and vehicle tests conducted by the magazine. Consumer Reports said safety was a main focus of the vehicle tests this year.  

The report is one of the most highly anticipated by consumers and is the third most influential factor in choosing a new vehicle after “brand loyalty” and “family/friends,” according to a recent survey.

Five TMS vehicles were ranked most reliable and scored the highest in their category:  Yaris, FJ Cruiser, Lexus LX, Sienna (V6 FWD) and the Tundra V6.

To read Consumer Reports news release on the survey, please visit:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/10/consumer-reports-2010-annual-car-reliability-survey-gm-makes-big-strides-while-honda-toyota-dominate-pr.html.

To read the Bloomberg news story on the survey, visit:
//www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-26/toyota-ties-with-honda-to-dominate-consumer-reports-reliability-survey.html.


DEALER REMINDER: We remind you that Consumer Reports strictly prohibits commercial use of its name and often takes legal action against violators of its policy. While you should feel free to share this “news” with customers (you can use the above Consumer Reports news release link), you should NOT use this information in any advertising or other forms that would violate Consumer Reports’ policies. One of the reasons the magazine has so much credibility with consumers is because it doesn’t take any advertising and strictly protects use of its name.

For more details on Consumer Reports “no commercial” policy, please visit:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/aboutus/adviolation/index.htm.
  
3. Toyota Named to Newsweek's Top 25 Greenest Companies in the World

Toyota is ranked 17th on the list of "The Top 25 Greenest Companies in the World" by Newsweek magazine, the highest of any automaker. The magazine teamed up with three leading environmental research organizations to analyze the 100 biggest companies worldwide based on actual environmental footprints, policies and reputations.

IBM topped the list with a perfect Green Score of 100. Honda, ranked 18th was the only other automaker to make the list.
For complete rankings, see:
  http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/green-rankings.html. 

 
4. Newspaper Says More Recalls Mean Cars Are Getting Better, Not Worse

An article on the Christian Science Monitor website points out that despite all the news about recalls this year, car quality is up this year and highway safety is better than ever in many ways. “So what do all these recalls signal? In an odd sort of way, they may be evidence that car companies are becoming more proactive,” the article says. It goes on to note that by moving quickly to address problems, automakers are taking potential hazards off the road before they can lead to accidents. “There are more recalls because cars are more complex,” says Bill Visnic, senior editor for Edmunds.com. “But cars are safer now than they’ve ever been.” The article adds that highway fatalities are at a six-decade low even though there are five times more cars on the road today than in 1950.

To read more, please visit:
//www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/2010/1021/Toyota-recall-October-2010-Lots-of-recalls.-Better-cars.  

5. Update on Toyota’s Global Quality Task Force 6-Point Action Plan

Editors Note: This is the second of a series of articles that will provide a progress report on each of the six points on Toyota’s Global Quality Task Force action plan. Today, we feature Point 2:

1.        Establish an organizational structure to implement a comprehensive plan
2.        Improve the gathering and analysis of customer information
3.        Assure our capabilities
4.        Utilize outside experts
5.        Increase communication with government authorities
6.        Improve regional autonomy

Toyota is listening more closely to its customers, and incorporating their feedback into the way it designs, manufactures and sells vehicles.  

The company appointed Dino Triantafyllos, who heads the Quality Division at TEMA, as Regional Product Safety Executive. He is responsible for leading information analysis and has already represented the voice of the North American customer in several field action decisions over the last several months.

In addition, Toyota established SMART teams comprised of 200 engineers and field technicians who have conducted more than 4,200 on-site vehicle evaluations for concerned customers. So far, SMART has not found a single case in which the vehicle’s electronic throttle control system would lead to sudden acceleration. Since allegations of sudden acceleration complaints have dropped 80 percent compared to last April, Toyota is broadening the scope of the SMART process to include other customer concerns as they arise. Key information from these evaluations will be shared with Toyota operations worldwide.
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