PLANO, Texas, Aug. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor
North America today announced the decision to form a new group
focused on delivering industry-leading user experiences and new
technologies for its Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Leveraging the
company's new "One Toyota"
structure, the newly formed "Connected Technologies" group will
have approximately 100 positions and will include members from
Toyota's existing teams working on connected vehicles, information
systems, and research and development. Combining Toyota's
various strategy, planning, development, engineering and operations
for connected service and hardware systems, will help advance and
personalize the in-car technology experience for customers. The
transition to the new group will start immediately.
![](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/439685/Toyota_Corp_Red_Logo.jpg)
"In-car, connected vehicle technology is a high priority for us
because its impact on the customer experience is becoming an
increasingly important factor in their purchase decisions," said
Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North
America. "Thanks to the new One
Toyota structure, we are removing barriers among our North
American teams that work on connected vehicles to create a more
cohesive and empowered team to listen to and create an ever-better
connected car experience for customers."
Connected Technologies will be based in Plano and report to Zack Hicks. Hicks will continue in his two
current roles, as both CIO of Toyota Motor North America and as the
CEO of Toyota Connected North America, while adding this new
responsibility.
"Our new team will double-down our efforts on connected vehicles
so we can provide our Toyota and Lexus customers a more human
experience," commented Hicks. "Connected vehicles are the next step
in a personalized driving experience, emphasizing your preferences
as a driver thanks to better technology, improving the customer's
ownership experience over time."
Connected vehicle technology includes one or more connections to
the Internet, such as via smartphone or satellite. There are two
areas of experience that are focused on: driver-centric and
car-centric. Driver-centric content, like Internet-connected radio,
cloud-based content, and apps, help personalize the driver's car
ownership experience. The other, car-centric content, offers
companies like Toyota the opportunity for remote diagnostics,
over-the-air software updates, cyber-security, and vehicle
relationship management. The market for connected vehicles is
growing rapidly as increased Internet speeds and products become
more widely available.
About Toyota
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 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14
manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than
46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North
American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost 2.7
million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and
about 85 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.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Aaron Fowles
(469) 292-1097
aaron.fowles@toyota.com
Amanda Roark
(469) 292-2636
amanda.roark@toyota.com
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-creates-connected-technologies-to-advance-in-car-user-experience-300510163.html
SOURCE Toyota Motor North America