Operations are now well underway at Toyota Motor North America’s (TMNA) expanded R&D, purchasing and prototype development centers in York Township, Michigan. A celebratory ceremony was recently held, which also marked the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s North American R&D operations.
A US$154m investment has seen experts from procurement and supplier engineering development relocated from Erlanger, Kentucky, and vehicle development and powertrain from California.
The TMNA building incorporates environmentally-sensitive and state-of-the-art design, materials, features and efficiencies, such as low-flow faucets for water conservation. LED lighting has also been used as well as high-efficiency building shells and exterior landscaping using indigenous plants such as Michigan strawberries. Toyota has applied for LEED Version 4 certification of the facility and if approved, this will make it the first LEED V4 Platinum building in Michigan.
Shinichi Yasui has also been appointed as engineering and manufacturing president, executive VP of TMNA R&D and managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation.
May 16, 2017
