Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota
Toyota sets up new research institute in U.S.A.
In welcomed news for the residents of Michigan, Toyota announced today an investment of $100 million over the next four years on an advanced research activity in their backyard. The funding will be centered around the newly established Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRI-NA), which is tasked with accelerating advanced research on energy and the environment, safety, and mobility infrastructure. TRI-NA will not build new facilities, however, though it will utilize existing space in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the Toyota Technical Center.
The Governor of the state, Jennifer M. Granholm, understandably welcomed the news. In addition to the millions of dollars pumped into Michigan's economy, TRI-NA hopes to be staffing upwards of 60 employees by 2010. For those who are counting, Toyota now directly employs over 43,000 in North America, and it purchases more than $30 billion in parts, materials goods and services from North American suppliers each year. While a still a drop in the bucket compared to what our own domestics spend in this country, it's not for nothing.
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE
Toyota Establishes Research Institute in North America
April 1, 2008 - Ann Arbor, Michigan - Toyota Technical Center (TTC) a division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., today announced the establishment of the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRI-NA). Toyota plans to spend $100 million during the next four years on advanced research activity in North America and will utilize existing facility space at the Toyota Technical Center Ann Arbor campus.
Toyota has been pursuing Sustainable Mobility, which addresses four key priorities: advanced technologies, urban environment, energy, and partnerships with government and academia. Based on these priorities, TRI-NA will accelerate advanced research on energy and environment, safety, and mobility infrastructure.
The Toyota Research Institute will be directed by Dr. Noboru Kikuchi, who is the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and also a Director of Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories, Inc. in Japan. Dr. Kikuchi will report directly to Mr. Yasuhiko Ichihashi, President of Toyota Technical Center-NA. TRI-NA initially will employ 35 researchers and administration staff, and plans to add 10 researchers in 2008 and an additional 20 by 2010. "Creating the Toyota Research Institute is the next step to strengthen Toyota's advanced research function throughout North America and to discover cutting-edge technologies for sustainable mobility," said Dr. Kikuchi.
"Toyota's decision to establish the Toyota Research Institute in Ann Arbor to direct advanced research activities for North America is another piece of good news for Michigan," Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said. "Toyota's decision demonstrates that Michigan is a leading state for research and offers an attractive business climate for companies to grow."
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 13 manufacturing plants. In addition, new plants are under construction in Ontario, Canada and Mississippi. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2.9 million vehicles in 2007. Toyota directly employs over 43,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $21 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 $30 billion per year.
Toyota currently produces 11 vehicles in North America, including the Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and the Lexus RX 350. When production begins in Ontario and Mississippi, Toyota will have 15 manufacturing plants with the annual capacity to build approximately 2.2 million cars and trucks, 1.49 million engines and 425,000 automatic transmissions. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sammy 2:13PM (4/01/2008)
This is being done in an existing facility, that was announced a long time ago, but never filled to capacity.
This isn't a new investment, just the same Toyota PR.
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John 2:30PM (4/01/2008)
Wow, 60 whole jobs and Jenny is excited. Hey Jenny, how about doing a little something more so Michigan isn't at the TOP of the unemployment list?
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C.W. 2:35PM (4/01/2008)
this is ridiculously lame to report on. toyota is lame. anyone who drives a toyota is lame and more importantly, jenn granholm is the lamest. seriously. she has to know she is the dumbest person alive and has done NOTHING productive for michigan...ever.
and seriously, anyone who knows anything about "foreign earned income" will understand why toyota, honda, etc have no business being supported by anyone who calls themselves american. and anyone who complains about our economy and drives a toyota can suck it.
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KCurtis 2:43PM (4/01/2008)
Is there a problem in the home?
So, I suppose everyone who owns a television, or just buy sanything that isn''t made in the U.S. is lame?
Wow... That ruined my day. lol
Dude 3:00PM (4/01/2008)
Shouldn't you be making circles in the snow right now?
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/american-axle-strike-idles-first-gm-passenger-car-plant/
Disgruntled Goat 3:15PM (4/01/2008)
Sheesh, a company brings jobs to an area that is desperate for jobs and all you get is bitchin and whinin about how they're not the right kind of jobs. That's like giving a steak to a starving man and having him complain because he wanted the veal.
Dude 2:39PM (4/01/2008)
"Toyota's decision to establish the Toyota Research Institute in Ann Arbor to direct advanced research activities for North America is another piece of good news for Michigan," Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said. "Toyota's decision demonstrates that Michigan is a leading state for research and offers an attractive business climate for companies to grow."
Man, if 65 jobs at Toyota can impress the Governor of Michigan, I'd love to read her statement for the opening of a new Wal-Mart or Home-Depot.
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snerdley 2:47PM (4/01/2008)
Put liberal politicians in charge, and you get Michigan. Lousy-anna is another liberal haven and poster child for how not to govern a state. Oh-ree-gone where I live is fast becoming another Michigan business death valley due to liberal governance. Just goes to show many Americans may not be the brightest bulbs in the box when it comes to electing government leaders.
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Disgruntled Goat 3:27PM (4/01/2008)
"Just goes to show many Americans may not be the brightest bulbs in the box when it comes to electing government leaders."
Amen snerdley, the 2004 presidential election was all that I needed to realize that.
jsjs 10:54PM (4/01/2008)
You must not be very bright.
Michigan's (and other manufacturing states') economic demise has been due to the pushing of "free market" trade agreements (NAFTA, w/ China, etc.) by the business-wing of the Republican party and centrist Democrats.
Pete 2:56PM (4/01/2008)
In January myself and about 80 other people were let in Troy, MI. This kind of publicity is a disgusting joke.
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Lithous 4:05PM (4/01/2008)
"The Toyota Research Institute will be directed by Dr. Noboru Kikuchi, who is the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and also a Director of Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories, Inc. in Japan. Dr. Kikuchi will report directly to Mr. Yasuhiko Ichihashi, President of Toyota Technical Center-NA. TRI-NA"
Kikuchi was born in Japan in 1951. I guess since Jim Press left they don't trust American born people to lead anything anymore even in America.
And yes, this type of "doorstep" headline is exactly why Toyota is doing this: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=125404
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Stéphane Dumas 4:27PM (4/01/2008)
Could be the beginning of its 1st step for Toyota to move his Californian offices to Michigan? If Nissan did the same when they moved to Tennessee, I won't be surprised if Toyota will do it.
Harrison 8:20PM (4/01/2008)
...or they couldn't find anyone that they liked?
Lithous 9:10PM (4/01/2008)
A hirer: I didn't hire him because he was black
Harrison: I'll have to defend that, a person has to hire who they like
Of course a company should hire who they like but actions speak louder than words. Doesn't mean they can't be criticized for the way they do things.
Big Rocket 10:33PM (4/01/2008)
Lithous:
In the hypothetical example you pulled out of thin air, the imaginary HR didn't hire someone because the job candidate had the wrong skin color. Do you have any proof Toyota hired Kikuchi because he had the right skin color? If you don't, that's what's commonly refered to as a baseless accusation.
Just so you know, I have come across many job postings on Monster.com where a foreign company operating in the US has a legitimate need to hire someone who has a fluent understanding of the native language used by the foreign HQ. Keep that in mind before you play the race card next time.
DesiAuto 4:09PM (4/01/2008)
MI job problems are more or less because of BIG 3 executives. They get paid to see what's coming, they didn't.
They didn't plan for future trends and MI residents are paying for it.
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DesiAuto 4:14PM (4/01/2008)
I bet more than 1000 MI engineers will apply for these 60 jobs.
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That One Person 4:32PM (4/01/2008)
I remember when Google came to Michigan and there was all this press about it. The (sort of) bad thing about it was the jobs required people to have college degrees.
What Michigan needs is more manufacturing jobs (the ones that left the state in somewhat huge numbers).
Granholm is an idiot. Plain and simple. She boasts about how she has brought all these jobs (usually jobs that require some sort of college education). And those jobs usually employed up to, maybe, 1000 people. Now how many people are unemployed in Michigan (not sure of numbers)? Unless there is a miracle and companies like this, Google, engineering firms bring tens of thousands of jobs here and somehow college grads or everyday folk went out and got degrees that are required for those jobs, Michigan is gonna continue to be in trouble.
Now, I don't want to open a new can of worms but if Granholm was to somehow get rid of the whole union ideal here in Michigan (think Southern States), Michigan's economy would most likely skyrocket. I am sure companies would be willing to build factories here instead of technical centers.
Let's see: 60 jobs vs. 1200 jobs. Hmmmm...
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elprogramer 4:06PM (4/03/2008)
That's a stupid analogy. While I'm sure the "right to work" does have some benefits, major manufacturing corporations are looking at cost of living, transportation, taxation, and even crime.
Michigan's economy isn't going to rebound with an idealogical shift, it'll rebound when people stop forcing their beliefs on each other and actually work together for the betterment of the state, like they were elected to do.