SAN ANTONIO, April 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- There's a
buzz flying through the air at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas,
Inc. (TMMTX). No, we're not talking about flying trucks, rather the
new pollinator garden and completely overhauled Visitors Center
exhibits at the San Antonio
facility. Today, company executives, team members and community
leaders joined to celebrate completion of the more than
$1 million project.
"This top-to-bottom remodel of our Visitors Center will provide
an interactive look at what we do here at TMMTX," said David Crouch, Vice President, TMMTX. "Guests
will get hands-on experience with exhibits such as a paint
simulator that tests their painting skills, and how to spot defects
when they step into the quality area. We hope to inspire our
next generation to learn more about STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math) and skilled labor jobs."
Other exhibits also give visitors a taste of what it takes to be
a team member, or an "industrial athlete," as Toyota calls its team
members. This includes a rope-game competition that
showcases fundamental skills needed, operating a lift assist to
pick up a truck seat, and a penny press to model the stamping
process and provides a souvenir.
In addition, guests will get up close to an automated-guided
vehicle, as well as see several historic and one-of-a-kind Toyota
trucks including a 1969 Land Cruiser, 1971 Hi-Lux and the "Back to
the Future" Tacoma.
Promoting Pollinators
Just outside the Visitors Center sits the new 11,000 sq. ft.
pollinator garden. TMMTX's environmental team worked with Texas
Parks and Wildlife and the San Antonio Zoo to fill the garden with
250 native plants that will attract pollinators such as bees,
butterflies, hummingbirds and other insects.
"We want people to know that planting just one plant that
pollinators enjoy helps," said Rob
Franklin, environmental director, TMMTX. "This garden is
part of our commitment to protecting biodiversity and supporting
local species, here in Texas and at our facilities across
North America."
Pollinators are crucial because they feed from flowers and
transfer pollen which allows flowers and plants to produce seeds,
fruits and vegetables. Approximately one out of every three bites
of food you eat depends on the work of a pollinator. Unfortunately,
pesticide usage and other factors harm pollinators.
Aside from planting native flowering plants, such as milkweed,
in support of pollinators, people can install houses for bats and
bees, supply salt or mineral licks for butterflies and water for
all wildlife, and reduce pesticide use.
TMMTX leaders also announced they'll partner with the San
Antonio Zoo to plant pollinator gardens at six local high schools.
Those schools will also be provided educational resources and
programming for students to learn about the importance of
pollinators in our environment.
About Toyota
Toyota's Team Texas is 7,200 team members strong and includes 23
on-site suppliers. The facility produced 267,000 Tundra and Tacoma
trucks in 2017. Each year, more than 22,000 guests stop at the
TMMTX Visitors Center.
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the
U.S. and North America for 60
years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time,
Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have
contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of
more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14
manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than
47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North
American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than
2.7million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and
about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years
are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places. For more information about
Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
TMMTX Contacts:
Mario Lozoya (210)
216-7154
Melissa Sparks (210)
501-6038
Toyota Media Line: (469) 292-5100
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America