Toyota City, Japan, Oct 21, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces an overview of the activities to be conducted by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd. (TMEC), established in the Changshu Southeast Economic Development Zone in 2010.
TMEC will work to strengthen automobile-manufacturing R&D in China by cooperating with R&D centers established at Chinese joint-venture companies with China FAW Group Corporation (FAW) and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd (GAC).
Specifically, TMEC will develop cutting-edge component technologies while the R&D centers of the two Chinese joint-venture companies will focus on the development of vehicle bodies.
Starting in 2013, when its major facilities are to be completed, TMEC will support vehicle development carried out by Toyota joint-venture companies in China, through the development of engines for vehicles manufactured at those companies, the testing and evaluation of vehicles at its large-scale test course and the thorough quality verification of vehicles for launch in the Chinese market.
Importance will also be placed on the development of environmental technologies, with consideration given to the local manufacture of major components for use in environment-friendly vehicles. A center for this purpose, to be named the "Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technical Center", will be established within the TMEC grounds with a total area of 11,000 m2 to develop environmental technologies aimed at benefiting the entire Chinese automobile manufacturing industry. In this way, communication and cooperation regarding environmental technologies will be carried out with a wide range of external parties, including joint-venture partners, suppliers and other manufacturers. Also, TMEC will carry out field operational tests with a mind toward the launch of environmental vehicles such as plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles in China.
Joint research with universities into fundamental technologies will also be carried out to refine environmental technologies while cultivating China's vibrant research community.
TMC will, together with TMEC, continue to strive to produce vehicles that meet consumer needs in China.
Outline of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd.
Location: Changshu Southeast Economic Development Zone, Changshu, China
Chairman: TMC Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada
President: Shunsaku Takeuchi
Capital: 234 million U.S. dollars
Investment 689 million U.S. dollars
(planned): (land, buildings, test course, test facilities, others.)
Equity: TMC: 100%
Land area: Approx. 2.34 million m2 (including 69,000 m2 for buildings
and 740,000 m2 for a test track)
Facilities Various test facilities including chassis dynamometers,
(planned): as well as test courses including a high-speed circuit,
rough road for durability tests and road for evaluating
marketability
Employees: Approx. 200 (as of July 2011) with eventual goal of 1,000
Established: November 17, 2010
Start of ops: April 2011