NEW YORK, April 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Today, Toyota launched the latest print execution in the company's ad campaign to highlight its growing operations, investment and job creation in the United States. The ad, entitled "Good Citizen," features team members from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama (TMMAL), Toyota's engine plant in Huntsville. The second to feature TMMAL, the ad communicates Toyota's commitment to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business, as evidenced by Toyota's team members across its operations.
The headline of the new ad reads: "Being a good corporate citizen starts with hiring lots of good citizens." It discusses that good corporate citizenship is about more than news and awards. It's about people who take pride in their work and in their communities. The ad also includes photos of TMMAL team members, both at the plant and involved in local community activities. Information about Toyota's $13 billion investment in ten U.S. plants and employment of more than 386,000(a) people is also included.
"Our team members in Alabama and across the United States share our commitment to building quality vehicles while also supporting local communities," said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "Their contributions have been integral to our success both as a manufacturer and a corporate citizen of the U.S."
"Toyota has been an engine for positive change across local communities where it has operations," said Ron Rosen, executive creative director of DCA Advertising, the agency which created the ad. "This ad aims to create further understanding of Toyota's impact by highlighting their team members, as well as information about U.S. investment and job creation."
TMMAL opened in May 2003 and supplies V6 and V8 engines for Toyota's Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks and Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicles produced in North America. The plant employs more than 500 team members and has the capacity to produce 120,000 V8 and 130,000 V6 engines annually. An expansion underway to increase V8 production will further boost employment to 800 and total investment to nearly a half billion dollars this year. One of Toyota's four engine plants in North America, the team at TMMAL was instrumental in helping Toyota reach the milestone of ten million engines produced in North America.
The new ad featuring TMMAL is running in more than 21 national publications, including USA Today, BusinessWeek, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and others.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and will operate 15 manufacturing plants in North America by 2008. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sell more than 2.5 million vehicles a year. Toyota directly employs over 38,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $16.8 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more than $28 billion. According to a 2005 Center for Automotive Research study, Toyota, along with its dealers and suppliers, has generated nearly 400,000 U.S. jobs, including jobs created through spending by direct, dealer and supplier employees.
Toyota produces 10 vehicles in North America, including the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and the Lexus RX 350. By 2008, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build about 2 million cars and trucks, 1.44 million engines and 600,000 automatic transmissions in North America.
(a) 2005 Center for Automotive Research study. Includes direct, dealer and supplier employees and jobs created through their spending.