Road to Toyota 50th Anniversary “By your side, always”

Bangkok--11 Oct--Toyota Motor Mr.Kyoichi Tanada, President of Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd. (TMT), Mr.Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont, Senior Vice President, along with senior executives presided over the Press Conference “Road to Toyota 50th Anniversary” to announce its continued contributions of smile and happiness to Thai society. The announcement was made on 5 October, 2011 at Royal Maneeya Ballroom, Renaissance Hotel, Bangkok. Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd. was established on 5 October,1962 with an inherited true spirit of Toyota Precepts saying that “Be contributive to the development and wealth of the country by working together, regardless of position, in faithfully fulfilling your duties." - Sakichi Toyoda, Founder. This philosophy is the foundation for global Toyota’s steady success as seen today. Throughout 49 years since its founding, Toyota has strived to an endorsement of the integrations of Corporate Social Responsibility across its value chains, divided into 5 eras. - Establishment era : First step of togetherness with Thais (1962-1972) - Development era : Determined to develop for greater trust (1973-1982) - Toyota New era : Pursuit of growth as contributing to society (1983-1992) - Motorisation era : Manufacturing cars to meet market demands (1993-2002) - Environmental innovation era : Eco-friendly technology, integrating responsibility for society (2003-Present) Regarding the operation in each era, 3-pillar strategy has been outlined as follows; 1) Products Founded in 1962, Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd. was importing passenger cars and multi-purpose vehicles, i.e. TOYO-ACE, Stout MS 40 and Land Cruiser. Then evolving to manufacture from CKD (Complete Knocked-Down), such as TOYOTA DYNA JK 170, TIARA, DYNA PUBLICA (UP 10), Stout, and Corona RT 40. The first Corolla model assembled in Thailand was Corolla KE 20. Heading for innovative technology in Thai auto industry, a 16-valve twin-cam engine was first debuted in Corolla AE 92, yielded by overwhelming welcome. In 2001, advanced Variable Valve Timing-intelligent or VVT-i technology, was first introduced in the Corolla ZZE 122 and 121, continuously developed to appear on Soluna Vios and Camry. Including an introduction of D-4D Common Rail system used in the Hilux was officially released in Thai auto market as the first Asian location. Toyota also debuted latest globally renowned environmentally friendly technology, Toyota Hybrid System (THS), in the Toyota Camry Hybrid, assembled in Thailand as the first Asian country. With class leading preventive and collision safety have been developed, such as GOA or Global Outstanding Assessment programme ensuring the world’s highest safety standards. Numerous awards would demonstrate our dedication for highest customer satisfaction through excellent after-sales services such as JD Power for the fourth consecutive years, 2008 to 2011. All of customer feedback reflects their warm welcome which contributes to the highest figure of Toyota car owners in Thailand. 2) Business Continuous business expansion of Toyota initiated by the establishment of Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd. in 1962 with a registered capital of 11.8 million Thai Baht and initiatively, 13 dealers. The main business was importing passenger car and commercial vehicles to Thai market. In 1964, the first automobile assembly plant was constructed at Samrong Nua, reassembling vehicles to input the Thai auto market. The investment of 3 TMT assembly plants provides the capability to manufacture 650,000 automobiles per year. The promotion of local content ratio in our supply chain benefits on investment promotion of 245 local auto component part suppliers. Furthermore, Toyota Co-operation Club, was established in 1982 to create better communication between Toyota and parts suppliers. To promote engines produced for domestic market and export, the Siam Toyota Manufacturing Co.,Ltd. (STM) was established in joint venture with the Siam Cement Public Co.,Ltd.. Followed by the Toyota Leasing (Thailand) Co.,Ltd,. was founded to provide leasing services to Toyota customers, current leverage of 8 branches and 3 sub-branches. Through our consolidated network of 123 Toyota dealers and 331 showrooms nationwide, vehicle sales and after-sales service are promptly offered. Toyota always listens to our customer’s voice, hence strengthening by an initiative to create an organized used-car business Toyota Sure, the network allows customers to find trusted quality used cars at the fair price at one-stop service facilities available in 67 outlets throughout Thailand. The consolidation of Toyota business network leads to rising employment of over 225,000 jobs, increasing the circular flow of income and contributing to economic growth of Thailand. In additional, TMT has become a global export hub of Thai assembled vehicles and auto parts to 114 countries globally. The 2012 accumulative income from exports is projected at 144,000 Million Baht, ranked as the largest automotive exporter in Thailand. 3) Society Toyota Guiding Principles serve as the fundamental management policy reflecting our endeavour to contribute to the society since the founding. We undertake the policy of Fully Integrated CSR across Value Chain, by complying with the 4R, referred to Reduction in resources consumption, and 4I, for Increase in sustainable happiness. The programme involves all facets of operation since the product designation to utilize eco-friendly materials, the alternative or renewable energy consumption promotion, including in the production, and in the distribution of products to valued customers. Our aim is to minimize waste due to our concern on environmental impacts on neighbouring communities. In addition, the CSR network has been extended to help promote sustainability in communities through 4 focus areas as follows; Environmental promotion Fostering the awareness of environmental conservation within the company itself, then spreading to local communities for the contribution of sustainability of nature. The designation of Toyota Ban Pho Plant is aimed at being one of five Sustainable Plants of global Toyota. The Eco-Forest Project was implemented by adopting the theory of Prof.Dr. Akira Miyawaki. Surrounding the eco-forest is the construction of Biotope serving as a natural learning centre with a stimulated ecological system. The tree-planting activity for Eco-Forest engaged the collaboration of TMT employees, dealers, suppliers, and local communities as Toyota put an effort to transfer environmental knowledge to the communities. Currently, the expansion of activities under the Stop Global Warming Project renders environmental community networking group in 77 provinces of Thailand with 684 projects, resulted in a reduction in CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions of up 8,500 tons. Additionally, an educational centre in Thoongsong District, Nakornsrithamaraj Province, “Thoongsong Educational Centre” was launched in the south of Thailand, and then expanded to the northern region, Lampoon province. Along with our initiatives of the Eco-Forest and mangrove reforestation activity archives the 805,367 tree plantation, reaching 800,000 individuals in Toyota environmental network throughout Thailand. The implementation of environmental-related programmes involving internal and external stakeholders provides 375,000 ton reduction in CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emission. Road Safety Initiated in 1988, the White Road Project was to promote road safety awareness of road users and young people with a total of 1.8 million youths engaging in numerous activities. Instance programmes are the Road Safety School Visit, and the learning centre to teach traffic regulations and traffic safety to children called the White Road Theme Park. The first park was opened in Suan Wachirabenjatas (Suan Rod Fai), Bangkok followed by the construction in Suranaree University of Technology, Nakornrajasrima. Education and Technology Transfer The support has been focused to enhance the potential and competitiveness among vocational school and university students. The knowledge may be applied for higher education level or for earning themselves. Examples are scholarship programmes, the cooperation with Chulalongkorn University to found the Department of Automotive Engineering, T-TEP or Toyota Technical Education Program, and the establishment of Toyota Automotive Technology School Community Care His Majesty The King granted 600,000 Baht to TMT to help establish the Rachamongkol Rice Mill (RRC) as an aid and support rice farmers in achieving self-reliance. Additionally, the project helps enhance sustainable self-reliance practices in the society. Furthermore, to commemorate its 30th anniversary, the Toyota Thailand Foundation (TTF) was founded with an emphasis on educational support and social development in remote areas. Mr.Kyoichi Tanada, President, stated “During the past 49 years, I have worked here twice and it is always my delight and honor to be back again witnessing rapid organizational growth. I am always impressed by generosity and kindness of Thais. And I truly praise skilled production competency of Thai staff which serves as a key factor of brand acceptance in domestic auto market and global market, underlining Toyota manufacturing capability as a largest auto exporter in Thailand. ” Mr.Kyoichi Tanada included “Thorough the past 49 years, Toyota would like to sincerely thank our shareholders, dealers, suppliers, employees and their family as well as CSR network. Most significantly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Thai customers for their constant support and understanding, which have let us share and grow in Thai society since our establishment.” “Toyota 50th Anniversary…By your side…Always” For the past 49 years, the mutual bond between the company and society for the togetherness and care has been created. Based on the synergized concept of two meaningful words which are Togetherness and Caring outlining our great movement to the dawn of our fifth decade, of which the slogan was created as “Toyota 50th Anniversary…By your side…Always”. On the path towards half a century of Toyota operation in 2012, the Year of Happiness is projected with an aim of bringing smile and enhancing happiness to Thais through our continuous product and service development, business contributions, and social contribution activities. This is our endeavour to reward back to society for the journey of togetherness shared, and for the determination to always share with us the happiness. The 3-pillar strategy will be implemented as in following parts; 1) Products Toyota is once again leading the way and create new phenomenon in Thai auto market and ASEAN by the evolution of innovation that will fulfill your lifestyle with Toyota Smart G-Book (Smart Life, Smart G-Book), a Telematic service integrating GPS navigation, emergency warning system, and on-board communication systems via smart phones, facilitating your life by features as; Traffic Information Real Time Traffic Information Communication: RTIC offers accurate and most recent navigation, enhanced by suggestions for alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion, by operators as services provider. Safety Emergency call system feature is all time available for cases requiring urgent attentions. Convenience The operator can be your assistant in planning a trip, making restaurant recommendations, and providing roadside assistance servicesCustomer Relations Alert service is active to remind drivers based on the mileage and diagnosis information sent from the vehicle with higher accuracySmart G-Book would help enrich customers’ joy when planning their trips, benefiting in lessening time and expenses. Moreover, it would fulfill the lifestyle and meet customer’s current requirements. The launch of Telematic service on smart phones in Thailand and ASEAN will be released within 2012. Toyota also developed new service and marketing activities to bring customers happiness throughout the year Business Customers always come first at Toyota, the network of showrooms and service centers has been consolidated to serve rising demands by our aim to create smile from customers. The expansion of our network also promotes an economic growth of local communities. Thanks to green initiatives, the implementation of CSR practises has been extended to the Eco-Showroom project accredited by the Thai Green Building Institution (TGBI). The criteria considered include location, designation, material management, and construction in accordance with the synergy of Economy and Ecology, implying optimizing energy performance to reduce environmental impact and appropriate to circumstances of Thailand. The programme embraces the corporate responsible operation to communities and environment. It is considered also as the first automaker in Thailand with the initiative of environmentally-friendly showrooms, which help promote showroom standard in Thailand to meet the international requirements. The network expansion planned to conduct in 2012 will lead to the emerging five eco-showrooms as the prototype. The designation and management of eco-showrooms regards 4 major categories as following; 1. Water Management Maximizing the utility through reduction of water use, reuse and recycling 2. Reduction of Energy Consumption With the data from wind resources assessment synergized with temperature, commercial viability can be calculated. Utilizing alternative energy and renewable energy i.e. Solar Cell, and wind turbines. 3. Resources Management Maximizing the usage of local materials emitting low CO2 while being manufactured, or the usage of recyclable materials, while providing waste management. 4. Environmental Quality and Protection Controlling air ventilation, and daylight penetration etc. Society Aimed at enhancement of sustainable happiness through social contribution activity, the practices has been incorporated to foster social responsibility within the organization, and then extended to engage external stakeholders. The expansion of Toyota CSR network increases the participation of local communities, and subsequently of nationwide in the activity concerning road safety and environmental areas. Environmental Issues The concept of “Toyota Eco Network for Sustainability”’ is aimed at creating sustainability in the cycles of nature under 3 principles namely; - To Increase community involvement through the Stop Global Warming project initiated with an aim of CO2 emission reduction by the collaboration of eco network of schools and communities nationwide. - To establish educational centres would help cultivate youths with environmental conservation awareness. The centres are planned to be established outside present settings in the north and the south of Thailand, by opening the 3rd educational centre in Klaeng, Rayong, in the central region, and the 4th centre in northeastern. The expansion will mark the implementation in every regions of Thailand. - To support reforestation and forest rehabilitation as having implemented by the initiative of the 1 Million Eco-Forest by the collaboration with part suppliers, dealers, and local communities, the 194,633 trees will have been planted to reach the One Million Trees goal by 2012. Road Safety under the Toyota White Road project implemented for consecutive 23 years with the integration of Toyota, government sectors, and road safety network throughout Thailand. The goal is to educate and cultivate road safety awareness under the compassion and discipline to children. The approaches are; - The opening of 3rd White Road Theme Park in the south to reach 2 millions students being educated about road safety knowledge by 2012. - Creation of educational multimedia resources in regard to road safety has been encouraged for the first time in Thailand through the social network learning platform under a scheme of “Drive safety culture, through the value of Compassion and Discipline : from classroom to community”. The materials have been adjusted to correspond with contemporary educational and learning resources with new technology used as follows; - Augmented Reality (AR) - E-Book - Game-Based Learning - Virtual Reality (VR) adopting technology as in simulation game - Material production Kits - Online encyclopedia to eliminate the boundaries of time and distance - The Safe Traffic City to expand road safety network. Target : Integrated activity to cover 50 provinces nationwide by 2011. On the occasion of Toyota 50th anniversary, TMT is determined to integrate the collaboration with the network, customers, local communities, and dealers to create the Smiling Road, under the concept of “Prototype of Road Role Models combining Safety and Environment” or Eco Safety Road. With the objective of contributing to safe road model and further promoting its stance on environmental initiatives, Toyota deploys the Photo Catalytic color used as air purifier with the capability to release O2 (Oxygen) to the community. This results in Forest of Community formed by local communities’ cooperation. The plan is to implement the project to be 5 Role Models of Smiling Road in 5 regions by 2012. Senior Vice President, Mr.Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont, concluded “Throughout 49 years of its business operations, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to everyone who has walked with and supported Toyota. For the 50th anniversary of Toyota, we would also like to contribute to happiness and smile to all Thai people as the fulfillment of the Year of Happiness in 2012. Many projects have been implemented for this special occasion. Our products, to start with, have been developed by emphasizing innovative technology that matches with current lifestyle with the launch of Toyota Smart G-Book. After-sales services have also been to maximize customer satisfaction leading to their smile. In additional, the expansion of showrooms has been conducted to respond customer demands in all area as well as the initiative of eco-showroom to promote its standard to meet international requirements. Besides, the social contribution activity implementation on 2 focus areas which are environmental issue and road safety campaign has been incorporated to the “Smiling Road” for enhancing sustainability into society”. “Toyota 50th Anniversary…By your side…Always”