Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) Incorporated

Tianjin―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) today announced the incorporation of the Toyota Technical Center, China (commonly known as the "China Support Center"), and further expansion of its operations to include joint development support for vehicles and parts in China.

The newly incorporated Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) Co., Ltd. will add to the current functions of the China Support Center by carrying out local vehicle compatibility surveys, expanding production support operations, and transplanting technologies to an even greater extent than before. Anticipation of Toyota's future growth in China, in addition to efforts to expand operations into joint development support for vehicles and parts in China, spurred the decision to incorporate.

Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) Co., Ltd. was incorporated in Tianjin City in February of this year, with a capital of ¥1.1 billion invested solely by TMC. The groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction of the head-office building in Park Huayuan Industry Development Area, Tianjin City, was held on June 19. Tianjin City government officials and other guests including representatives of Tianjin Automotive Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd., along with TMC Managing Director and Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) Co., Ltd. Chairman Kosuke Shiramizu were in attendance. Actual operations at the company are expected to begin in January 1999, and the new head-office building is scheduled for completion in the spring of the same year.

Since its founding in April 1995, the Toyota Technical Center, China has acted as a liaison between TMC and China. The Center was created to act as the Representative office in Tianjin City, and contribute to the development of the Chinese automobile industry. It has been involved in establishing four parts companies in China, along with other activities focusing on the transfer of TMC parts production technologies. It has also transplanted Toyota's management know-how and introduced the newest production technologies, via TPS and Toyota technical courses, and other means.