Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the world's leading automakers, offering a full range of models, from minivehicles to large trucks. Global sales of its Toyota and Lexus brands, combined with those of Daihatsu and Hino, totaled 7.55 million units (retail basis) in the 2004 calendar year. Besides its own 12 plants and a number of manufacturing subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan, Toyota has 52 manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions, which produce Lexus-and Toyota-brand vehicles and components. As of March 2004, Toyota and employs about 265,753 people worldwide (on a consolidated basis), and markets vehicles in more than 170 countries and locations. Toyota's automotive business, including sales finance, accounts for more than 90% of the company's total sales, which came to a consolidated 18.55 trillion in the fiscal year to March 2004. Its diversified operations include telecommunications and prefabricated housing.
Toyota has won a host of awards since 1985, when it first applied for a Good Design Award. In 2003, Prius, The world's first stock automobile with the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, won the Grand Prize.
Toyota Motor Corporation
1 Toyota-Cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture 471-8571, Japan
Phone: +81-5-6528-2121
Exhibit items
i-unit, Future Personal Mobility
i-unit is an innovated means of personal mobility, created on the basis of the concept of “expanding human abilities". In keeping with the Toyota mission of creating a society in which people and their natural environment coexist harmoniously, i-unit minimizes space and energy needs, and unlike conventional vehicles, responds to the movements of the driver to the point where it feels more like it is worn rather than driven. And the shape symbolizes a leaf, is friendly both to people and to the environment.
The i-unit's variable positioning system changes vehicle height depending on speed, which depends on driving environment. In low-speed mode is up-light position for the people area, in high-speed mode is reeclined position for the road area. Push the drive-by-wire drive controller forward to go forward, and to the left
to turn to the left. The drive controller lets you go anywhere, controlling speed and
direction with just one hand.IT and Intelligent Transport System (ITS) technology
prevent accidents before they happen.
Its silvery injection molded body is made completely of environmentally friendly materials, including kenaf.
Designer: Toyota Motor Corporation Design Center
Award Year: 2005-6
