PLANO, Texas, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA)
continues to assist those in need with essential supplies,
emergency relief and is providing on-going support to many local
organizations and non-profits. These efforts include monetary,
"in-kind" donations, plus utilizing several of the company's North
American facilities to fabricate face shields while collaborating
with medical device companies to speed the manufacture of
ventilators, respirators and other vital devices for hospitals.
"Toyota's core value has always been to contribute to society in
meaningful ways beyond providing mobility for our customers," said
Ted Ogawa, incoming CEO, TMNA. "With
our plants idled and our dealers focused on servicing customers, we
are eager to contribute our expertise and know-how in order to help
quickly bring to market the medical supplies and equipment needed
to combat the COVID crisis. Our message to the medical equipment
community is we are here to help, please utilize our
expertise."
For medical device companies and related businesses seeking
support in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, supply chain
and purchasing, all inquiries can be sent to:
ToyotaMPICsupport@toyota.com
The company has also taken several actions in support of curbing
the spread of the virus and helping communities across North America, including:
- Face Shields: Working to produce 3-D printed face
shields, and mass production will kick off early next week. The
first distribution will be to MD Anderson in Houston, UT Southwestern Medical Center in
Dallas, and other hospitals in
Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan.
- COVID-19 Masks: Ready to produce COVID-19 masks,
currently seeking partners for filters.
- Ventilators/Respirators: Finalizing agreements to begin
working with at least two companies that produce ventilators and
respirators to help increase their capacity.
- Toyota Production System Support Center (TSSC): Offering
manufacturing/engineering know-how support to companies to increase
their capacity for necessary medical supplies and equipment and
will continue to be available to them. Currently working to support
Hospitals/communities on organizing efficient drive-through
COVID-19 testing sites. To learn more about TSSC click on the
following: https://www.tssc.com/
- Customer Financing: Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and
Lexus Financial Services (LFS) are providing payment relief options
to customers who are affected by COVID-19. Affected lease and
finance customers may be eligible to take advantage of finance
contract payment extensions or lease deferred payments. TFS and LFS
are also providing options to assist customers at or near the end
of their lease who are impacted by the pandemic.
- Advertising: Toyota brand pulled its March sales
event advertising and started running a new national ad campaign
with an optimistic message to let our customers know that at
Toyota, "We're here for you."
- Lexus also will release its own advertising this week to
reassure luxury customers that we put "People First."
- Donation of Supplies: Toyota has made significant
donations to hospitals, emergency management teams, and first
responders. Items donated include masks, safety glasses, shoe/boot
covers, gloves, blankets, and cotton swabs.
- Community and Business Partner Groups: Continue to make
significant monetary donations to the United Way, food banks and
other key non-profit organizations geared towards helping those in
need. In addition, the company's Business Partnering Groups are
providing mentoring, university lecturing, health and safety tips
for employees, families and pets and additional ways to support the
communities in which we operate.
For a complete list of donations from our Toyota companies,
employees and dealers that are helping to assist local communities,
please visit Toyota's COVID-19 page at:
https://pressroom.toyota.com/topic/covid-19-information/.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S.
and North America for more than 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 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing
plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ
more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800
North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.7
million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota,
visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
CONTACT:
Victor Vanov
Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
469.292.1318
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America