Toyota Launches Consolidated R&D and Manufacturing Company in North America

Tokyo ― TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) marked the April 1 establishment of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA)―created to consolidate Toyota's R&D and manufacturing operations in North America―with ceremonies in Erlanger, Kentucky and Ann Arbor, Michigan on April 3 (April 4 in Japan).

By strengthening the link between Toyota's North American R&D and production activities, TEMA is expected to increase operation efficiency and flexibility by reducing lead times for all related processes. Set up with an aim toward allowing a flexible response to changes in the marketplace, TMC expects TEMA to open the door for greater localization.

In launching TEMA, the functions previously handled by Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TMMNA), the headquarters for Toyota's manufacturing activities in North America, and its R&D unit, Toyota Technical Center U.S.A. Inc. (TTC), have been integrated.