Toyota Debuts Driver Awareness Research Vehicle at Los Angeles Auto Show

Los Angeles, Calif. (November 20, 2013) – What if we could reduce driver distraction before ever putting a key in the ignition? That’s the focus of the Driver Awareness Research Vehicle (DAR-V) that Toyota unveiled at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show today.

“At Toyota, our focus is not only on protecting people in case of an accident, but also on preventing that accident from happening in the first place,” said Chuck Gulash, Director of Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC).  “While the auto industry will never eliminate every potential driver distraction, we can develop new ways to keep driver attention and awareness where it needs to be – on the road ahead.”

Happy Trails, FJ Cruiser

It’s finally here…and then it’s gone.  Toyota today unveiled the 2014 FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition at a press conference held at the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. 

The 2014 Trail Teams Ultimate Edition is a commemorative final special edition of the FJ Cruiser.    It is the toughest and most capable FJ ever and pays tribute to the iconic vehicle that will end its production run at the conclusion of the 2014 model year.  With limited production, only 2,500 will be built.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Toyota Kick-Off Nationwide Pledge to Encourage Americans to Buckle Up For Life

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a national leader in pediatric medicine, and Toyota announced today the first annual National Buckle Up for Life Day - a nationwide movement dedicated to improving child passenger safety. In recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week (September 15-21, 2013), the partnership will launch “National Buckle Up for Life Day” revealing new research findings on child car seat safety, increased funding from Toyota for three new Buckle Up for Life partner cities, and a nationwide pledge encouraging the nation to Buckle Up for Life.

It's No Illusion. Mississippi-Built Corolla Makes its Local Debut

In front of an estimated crowd of nearly 9,000 people at the BancorpSouth Arena this afternoon the all-new, next generation 2014 Corolla officially made its Mississippi debut at its line off ceremony, featuring an illusionist, aerialists, fire artists and other performers.  Attendees included Toyota Mississippi team members and their families, suppliers and invited guests including Miss. Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Congressman Alan Nunnelee.

Toyota Pays off Car Loan and Gives SUV to 50 Millionth Customer

Imagine a stranger wearing a suit strolling into your backyard carrying balloons, the title to your car and the keys to another car. That's exactly what happened to NYPD veteran Michael Dee when Toyota executive Bill Fay surprised him during a family barbecue.

Toyota Is Going Places with Ximena Sariñana

Latino music fans can get the inside scoop on the 2013 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, thanks to Toyota and Latin pop music star Ximena Sariñana. Toyota will be there every step of the way, with Ms. Sariñana chronicling the event in a week-long social media series centered on music and culture.

Dubbed “Música y Destinos,” the journey will begin on August 9 with Sariñana travelling from Los Angeles to the iconic festival in a Toyota Prius. Music fans can follow Sariñana on Twitter (@XimenaMusic) as she interviews artists, exhibitors and attendees and comments on all the festival happenings. Some of Sariñana’s curated festival experience will also be highlighted via @ToyotaLatino.

“Partnering with Ximena Sariñana gives our Toyota fans and followers a unique look at the festival through the eyes of this talented, Latin Grammy-nominated artist,” said David Chung, Toyota.

Hay Farmer from Northern Michigan Heads Development of New 2014 Toyota Tundra Pickup Truck

On farms throughout America, pickup trucks are like a member of the family.  Mike Sweers is living the dream of every kid who was raised in farm country: He gets paid to create trucks.  Sweers, who still runs an active hay farm in Northern Michigan, has used his mechanical engineering degree, and life experiences as a farmer, to aid him as the chief engineer of Toyota pickup trucks; especially the development of the new 2014 Tundra full-size pickup.