Toyota Connected will help free our customers from the tyranny of technology. It will make lives easier and help us to return to our humanity. From telematics services that learn from your habits and preferences, to use-based insurance pricing models that respond to actual driving patterns, to connected vehicle networks that can share road condition and traffic information, our goal is to deliver services that make lives easier.

—Zack Hicks, CEO of Toyota Connected and Chief Information Officer at Toyota Motor North America

Based in Plano, TX, Toyota Connected will launch with two mandates: delivering seamless and contextual services; and using cutting-edge data analytics to support product development for customers, dealers, distributors, and partners. In support of these goals, the new company will consolidate Toyota initiatives in data center management, data analytics, and data-driven services development.

In addition, the new company builds on Toyota’s existing partnership with Microsoft to accelerate R&D efforts and to deliver new connected car solutions and elevated customer experiences. Microsoft engineers will work with Toyota Connected in their new facility, providing continuous support across technology areas and leveraging a broad range of data analytics and mobile programs. Toyota Connected will adopt Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform, employing a hybrid solution globally.

Toyota Connected’s structure builds on Toyota Motor Corporation’s global re-organization into product-based companies, and will focus on expanding Toyota’s work in connected and data science technologies. (Earlier post.) Toyota Motor Corporation Senior Managing Officer Shigeki Tomoyama will be Chairman, with Toyota Motor North America Chief Information Officer Zack Hicks serving as Chief Executive Officer.

The structure will allow Toyota Connected to centralize company initiatives across a broad range of emerging technology fields, ensuring that the common focus of all of them is the customer. Program areas will include in-car services and telematics; home/IoT connectivity; personalization; safety; smart city integration; and a broad range data services for Toyota affiliates, its dealers; fleet services and more.

At launch, Toyota Connected is already providing a range of data and computer science services across Toyota’s operations, including support for ongoing research into artificial intelligence and robotics and the Toyota Research Institute.