Toyota Team Members Tackle the Terrain of Latin America
August 22 2016 - 7:49PM
JCN Newswire (English)
Toyota kicked off the third leg of the Five Continents Driving
Project in Latin America. For the next three and a half months,
Toyota's employees hailing from Japan and the local affiliates will
work closely together to take on a variety of severe driving
conditions of the continent. In this project, the employees will
take on the steering wheel, and experience on site driving on the
Latin American terrains, where they can better understand the
conditions which our customers face every day. This is in line with
the principle of genchi genbutsu, or hands-on knowledge of the
situation on the ground. Hence, the project will be a platform
through which we are able to train our personnel and hone our
abilities for the making of ever-better cars.
Toyota conducted the first leg of the project in Australia in 2014.
By taking on the continent's diverse roads which cover
approximately 20,000 kilometers of desert tracks and other tough
terrain among others, a team of 80 Toyota employees who had
participated were able to gain critical insight where they were
able to understand, and gather essential observations for the
making of cars, which cannot be derived simply from driving cars on
test courses.
In 2015, another team consisting of around 140 Toyota employees
tackled a variety of terrains totaling approximately 28,000
kilometers across North America. The team, which was divided into
two seasons; summer and winter, had learnt what cars needed in
order to operate under severe opposing driving conditions, such as
through the relentless heat of the Death Valley, to the unforgiving
arctic climes of Alaska and Canada.
This year, for the third leg of the Five Continents Driving
Project, Toyota employees will be divided into three teams to
complete approximately 20,000 kilometers in total distance. By
crossing the borders of seven countries, and through experiencing
the diverse cultures and climates, the team will take on a variety
of severe driving conditions of the continent, including muddy
roads in the tropics, mountainous roads at an altitude of over 4000
meters, and highways affected by strong crosswinds. The vehicles
participating will also be driven across dunes and wadis (dried-up
streams), which are located along the driving course of the Dakar
Rally. The Dakar Rally has been regarded as one of the world's most
severe within the realm of motorsports, and by driving through such
harsh conditions, it would help to further hone the abilities of
our personnel for the making of ever-better cars.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda said: "By taking on the steering wheel
on their own, the participants will be able to interact with, and
gain on-site experiences from driving on a variety of roads, and
what they feel and think will be the insights for making
ever-better cars. This Latin American leg is where the
participating vehicles and drivers will encounter many challenges
in the different countries, not just from the varying road
conditions, but also, that they will face changes in temperatures
and altitudes. I expect that the team members will be able to hone
their intuition through overcoming such various difficult
situations."
Toyota positions motorsports as a crucial means of conveying the
dreams and the excitement which automobiles are able to provide. By
conducting related activities under the umbrella of Toyota GAZOO
Racing, Toyota is making consistent efforts to develop its people,
improve its products, and encourage a greater following of car fans
and enthusiasts.
Since 2007, as part of Toyota GAZOO Racing, Toyota employees have
competed in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, an endurance race that is
held annually in Germany. It is at Nurburgring that as cars are
placed under extreme situations, Toyota has been able to train its
employees. In April 2015, Toyota consolidated all of its motorsport
activities under Toyota GAZOO Racing in the hopes of inheriting
Toyota's foundational philosophy of human development through
motorsport.
For Toyota GAZOO Racing, the Five Continents Driving Project is
directed toward the development of personnel-one of the important
pillars in motorsports. Toyota will continue the project, in tandem
with 340,000 global Toyota employees, to strive towards the united
goal of making customers smile through the making of ever-better
cars. The year 2020, when the Tokyo Olympic Games will be held, has
been identified as the target year for the completion of the
projects.
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation
(TSE:7203; NYSE:TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937
to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of
December 2013, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 52
overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions.
Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions.
For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.
Source: Toyota
Contact:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Public Affairs Division
Global Communications Department
Tel: +81-3-3817-9926
Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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