> July 16, 2010
>
> Toyota Fast Facts is an update on Toyota and industry news. For more news,
> visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic19459.jpg)
>
> 1. Toyota and Tesla Sign Formal Agreement to Develop Electric RAV4 for
> 2012
>
> Toyota and Tesla Motors signed an agreement today to develop an electric
> version of the Toyota RAV4 with an aim to market it in the United States in
> 2012. The effort will combine the RAV4 model with a Tesla electric
> powertain. Tesla plans on delivering a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for
> evaluation within this year.
>
> To read more, please click on:
> http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/tesla-motors-and-toyota-motor-16391...
> .
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic04813.jpg)
>
> 2. Toyota Asks Dealers to Educate Buyers on Features to Avoid Concerns
>
> Toyota is asking its dealers to educate buyers on model features to ensure
> they’re not mistaken for safety flaws after a “large number” of owners
> ignored warnings not to stack floor mats beneath accelerator pedals,
> reports Bloomberg. Toyota Motor Sales President Jim Lentz said the company
> and its dealers have talked to as many as 7,000 owners regarding concerns
> about unintended acceleration stemming from possible causes such as floor
> mats and sticking accelerator pedals. In some cases, he said, people
> weren’t familiar with how automatic cruise control worked, didn’t know air
> conditioners could boost engine revving or failed to remove extra floor
> mats. Rather than running through features on new cars immediately after a
> sale or expecting customers to read the owners manual, Lentz said the
> company and its dealers are working together to be more flexible in
> providing the information so it better fits into customers’ schedules.
>
> To read the story, please click on:
> http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-16/toyota-focuses-on-customer-education...
> .
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic09016.jpg)
>
> 3. Toyota Says Acceleration Probe Far From Finished
>
> Toyota is “not anywhere near close’’ to drawing firm conclusions from its
> probe of reports of unintended acceleration and does not plan to disclose
> its findings until the government finishes its investigation, a company
> spokesman said Thursday.
>
> Several government agencies, including NASA and the Transportation
> Department, are conducting probes into complaints of unintended
> acceleration but their findings are not due until as late as next year.
> Toyota Motor Corporation engineers have investigated more than 2,000
> reports of surging cars. “It’s important to allow others . . . to complete
> their investigations without our findings providing any sort of
> influence,’’ said Mike Michels, vice president of external communications
> for Toyota.
>
> Earlier in the week, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed government
> sources, reported the government had analyzed dozens of data recorders in
> Toyota vehicles involved in crashes blamed on unintended acceleration and
> found the throttles open and the brakes not engaged.
>
> To read the full article, click on:
> http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/07/16/toyota_will_hold_off_on_sa...
> .
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic26907.jpg)
> 4. J.D. Power Study on Appeal Shows Gains by Domestic Automakers
>
> Domestic auto brands outscored import brands in J.D. Power 2010 Automotive
> Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL) that focuses on how much
> owners like their vehicles. The study was based on 76,000 consumers'
> assessments on about 80 criteria after driving their 2010-model vehicles
> and was taken between February and May 2010, during the height of Toyota
> and Lexus recalls. The respondents are the same that participated in the
> J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).
>
> Porsche was rated No. 1 in the APEAL study and Ford led all other
> automakers with five of its 20 models leading their segments. Lexus placed
> 7th, Scion 24th and Toyota 32nd, one spot higher than last place Jeep. “The
> APEAL study is one of many factors car buyers should think through,” noted
> Toyota spokeswoman Allison Takahashi. “Other areas worth evaluating include
> durability, emissions, environmental impact, fuel efficiency, resale value
> and safety ratings.”
>
> To read the Detroit Free Press article on the study, click on:
> http://www.freep.com/article/20100716/BUSINESS01/7160303.
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic29330.jpg)
>
> 5. TMC to Build New Brazilian Plant
>
> Toyota has announced plans to build a third automotive plant in Brazil to
> meet the rising demand in the emerging market in Latin America. The company
> will invest $600 million to build a plant near Sao Paulo. Operations are
> expected to begin in 2012. The new plant will employ 1,500 workers and
> produce 70,000 vehicles per year. Toyota has sold a record 95,000 vehicles
> in Brazil, up 18% year-over-year
>
> To read more, click on:
> http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GVSE300.htm.>
Read more!
>
> Toyota Fast Facts is an update on Toyota and industry news. For more news,
> visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic19459.jpg)
>
> 1. Toyota and Tesla Sign Formal Agreement to Develop Electric RAV4 for
> 2012
>
> Toyota and Tesla Motors signed an agreement today to develop an electric
> version of the Toyota RAV4 with an aim to market it in the United States in
> 2012. The effort will combine the RAV4 model with a Tesla electric
> powertain. Tesla plans on delivering a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for
> evaluation within this year.
>
> To read more, please click on:
> http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/tesla-motors-and-toyota-motor-16391...
> .
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic04813.jpg)
>
> 2. Toyota Asks Dealers to Educate Buyers on Features to Avoid Concerns
>
> Toyota is asking its dealers to educate buyers on model features to ensure
> they’re not mistaken for safety flaws after a “large number” of owners
> ignored warnings not to stack floor mats beneath accelerator pedals,
> reports Bloomberg. Toyota Motor Sales President Jim Lentz said the company
> and its dealers have talked to as many as 7,000 owners regarding concerns
> about unintended acceleration stemming from possible causes such as floor
> mats and sticking accelerator pedals. In some cases, he said, people
> weren’t familiar with how automatic cruise control worked, didn’t know air
> conditioners could boost engine revving or failed to remove extra floor
> mats. Rather than running through features on new cars immediately after a
> sale or expecting customers to read the owners manual, Lentz said the
> company and its dealers are working together to be more flexible in
> providing the information so it better fits into customers’ schedules.
>
> To read the story, please click on:
> http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-16/toyota-focuses-on-customer-education...
> .
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic09016.jpg)
>
> 3. Toyota Says Acceleration Probe Far From Finished
>
> Toyota is “not anywhere near close’’ to drawing firm conclusions from its
> probe of reports of unintended acceleration and does not plan to disclose
> its findings until the government finishes its investigation, a company
> spokesman said Thursday.
>
> Several government agencies, including NASA and the Transportation
> Department, are conducting probes into complaints of unintended
> acceleration but their findings are not due until as late as next year.
> Toyota Motor Corporation engineers have investigated more than 2,000
> reports of surging cars. “It’s important to allow others . . . to complete
> their investigations without our findings providing any sort of
> influence,’’ said Mike Michels, vice president of external communications
> for Toyota.
>
> Earlier in the week, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed government
> sources, reported the government had analyzed dozens of data recorders in
> Toyota vehicles involved in crashes blamed on unintended acceleration and
> found the throttles open and the brakes not engaged.
>
> To read the full article, click on:
> http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/07/16/toyota_will_hold_off_on_sa...
> .
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic26907.jpg)
> 4. J.D. Power Study on Appeal Shows Gains by Domestic Automakers
>
> Domestic auto brands outscored import brands in J.D. Power 2010 Automotive
> Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL) that focuses on how much
> owners like their vehicles. The study was based on 76,000 consumers'
> assessments on about 80 criteria after driving their 2010-model vehicles
> and was taken between February and May 2010, during the height of Toyota
> and Lexus recalls. The respondents are the same that participated in the
> J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).
>
> Porsche was rated No. 1 in the APEAL study and Ford led all other
> automakers with five of its 20 models leading their segments. Lexus placed
> 7th, Scion 24th and Toyota 32nd, one spot higher than last place Jeep. “The
> APEAL study is one of many factors car buyers should think through,” noted
> Toyota spokeswoman Allison Takahashi. “Other areas worth evaluating include
> durability, emissions, environmental impact, fuel efficiency, resale value
> and safety ratings.”
>
> To read the Detroit Free Press article on the study, click on:
> http://www.freep.com/article/20100716/BUSINESS01/7160303.
>
> (Embedded image moved to file: pic29330.jpg)
>
> 5. TMC to Build New Brazilian Plant
>
> Toyota has announced plans to build a third automotive plant in Brazil to
> meet the rising demand in the emerging market in Latin America. The company
> will invest $600 million to build a plant near Sao Paulo. Operations are
> expected to begin in 2012. The new plant will employ 1,500 workers and
> produce 70,000 vehicles per year. Toyota has sold a record 95,000 vehicles
> in Brazil, up 18% year-over-year
>
> To read more, click on:
> http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GVSE300.htm.
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