Toyota Establishes Research Institute in North America

1 April 2008

Toyota Technical Center (TTC), a division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., is establishing 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 (Michigan) campus.

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.