This time, Toyota Times News features a special class for high school students by Chairman Akio Toyoda.

The stage for his class was FC Imabari High School, which opened in April 2024 in Ehime Prefecture. The school is known for its school principal, Takeshi “Oka-chan” Okada, former Japanese national men’s soccer team coach.

The school aims to nurture a new generation of leaders and has a varied curriculum, which includes guest lectures from many different industry professionals.

A certain YouTube video led to “Aki-chan’s” guest lecture. Mr. Okada’s approach to education resonated deeply with the chairman who even said, “Toyota will take all your graduates.”

That encounter was the start of the special class featured in today’s video.

“What do you wish you had done during high school?”
“How do you deal with a crisis when faced with one?”
“Tell me about people who inspired you to change.”

Teacher Aki-chan answers the barrage of questions with sincerity.

After the lecture, the class went out into the schoolyard where the students had a chance to ride in a rally car. In response to student requests, teacher Aki-chan offered a special opportunity to sit in the Century he rode to the school. All the teenagers smiled in excitement at this up-close experience of enjoying cars!

Aki-chan reflected on his time interacting with the bright-eyed students, saying with a smile, “It was a very short time, but they really energized me.”

Whenever he talks about the future, Chairman Toyoda never fails to mention the children who will build that future.

Vehicles, Parts, and More on Display Under Main Theme of “Car-making at Nürburgring”

Toyota Motor Corporation
GAZOO Racing Company

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) announced today that it is exhibiting at the three-day Tokyo Auto Salon 2025^*1 being held at Makuhari Messe (in Chiba, Japan) from January 10 (today) to 12, 2025, mainly displaying vehicles and vehicle parts under the main theme of “Car-making at Nürburgring”, which is the starting point of TGR and Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo.

This year, along with Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., TGR is exhibiting at Makuhari Messe’s North Hall. TGR’s booth will include the “LAND CRUISER BASE” display for promoting the fun of customizing the Toyota Land Cruiser, hitherto put on by Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. This coming together by members of the Toyota Group aims to boost excitement at Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.

During the event’s three days, TGR plans to hold talk sessions featuring drivers, engineers, and others, as well as outdoor vehicle demo runs. Detailed information on the talk sessions, the demo runs, exhibited vehicles, and others can be found on the following special website.
URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/eventexhibition/tokyoautosalon/

Main vehicles and other exhibited items at Tokyo Auto Salon 2025

Underlined items indicate items detailed in this press release.

Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 vehicles and other exhibited items

1. GR YARIS (NÜR 24h)

From 2025, TGR and ROOKIE Racing intend to compete in the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie (NLS) and the Super Taikyu Series as a united “TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing (TGRR)”. The new team plans to mark Toyota’s return to the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race after a six-year hiatus, entering with the evolved GR Yaris, which made its world debut at Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 and is equipped with the newly developed GAZOO Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. In 2024, numerous drivers, including Morizo and professional drivers, worked to prepare their Nürburgring entry vehicle by test-driving the GR Yaris on various roads both in Japan and abroad, including those of the Nürburgring circuit. The team seeks to hone its people and cars at the Nürburgring, the starting place of Morizo and TGR.

2. GR YARIS M Concept

To further explore the potential of the GR Yaris, TGRR plans to compete in the Super Taikyu Series in the GR YARIS M Concept, which features an underdevelopment, midship-mounted, 2.0-liter, inline 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine. The team aims to implement “driver-first” carmaking, in which cars are repeatedly driven to failure and then repaired in the extreme conditions of racing and in which feedback from Morizo, professional drivers, and gentleman drivers is thoroughly incorporated.

3. GR YARIS Aero Package (prototype)

The GR YARIS Aero Package is a concept vehicle equipped with performance aerodynamic parts that havebeen developed together with professional drivers through an uncompromising approach to achieving targeted performance by addressing every single issue encountered during racing and circuit evaluations. The vehicle features six such parts, including a variable rear wing with a situation-responsive adjustable angle, and not only pursues enhanced aerodynamic performance and handling stability but also exerts an eye-catching presence in terms of styling. It also has a vertical handbrake, which is available as a popular factory-installed option for the RC trim level of the evolved GR Yaris released last year.

GR86 software upgrades

Since its launch in 2021, the GR86 has been well-received by many customers as a car with the unique driving feel of a GR vehicle. Its partial upgrade in 2024 reflects learnings from various motorsports in which the GR86 continues to compete. Based on feedback from professional drivers who hone cars in the extreme environment of racing, the throttle characteristics were modified (in manual transmission vehicles) and the engine-speed tolerance range during downshifting was expanded (in automatic transmission vehicles) to improve acceleration response and enable quicker downshifts, resulting in the further refinement of the unique driving feel of a GR vehicle. To enable pre-upgrade GR86 owners to experience this evolved driving performance, software upgrades “GR86 PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE for MT” / “GR86 PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE for AT” are to be sold^*2 through GR Garage locations from the spring of 2025. So that those who continue to drive the GR86 can enjoy it for many years to come, TGR intends to continue supporting the evolution of its customers’ beloved cars.

Software upgrade details

Manual transmission vehicles

Engine torque control has been modified for easier blipping, which is often required in motorsports. Also, throttle control has been adopted to obtain a more direct response to accelerator operation, improving ease of handling at the upper limits of performance.

Automatic transmission vehicles

Responding to requests from customers who participate in motorsports with automatic transmission vehicles, the engine-speed tolerance range during downshifting has been expanded, enabling sporty driving supported by a wider torque band.

5. Circuit Mode

Circuit Mode is a service that enables functions that bring out a car’s potential, such as by adding anti-lag control and raising the speed limit of the speed limiter, at service-eligible circuits and facilities in Japan. GPS location determination and operation using a dedicated app switches the vehicle’s instrument panel to a dedicated gauge display that intuitively shows shift timing and engine rpms, enabling the use of Circuit Mode.

In response to customer requests since the service’s launch on August 21, 2024, to be able to enjoy Circuit Mode in a variety of motorsports, the number of eligible circuits and facilities was increased today from the hitherto 50 to 77, centering on facilities where gymkhana and dirt trials can be enjoyed.

For details on eligible circuits and facilities, available features, etc., please see the following:
https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/gr/circuit_mode/ (in Japanese)

GR Parts

TGR strives to quickly provide its customers with parts that leverage knowledge gained through racing. Sales of the following items for various vehicle models are to start in succession.

For the GR Yaris

For the GR86

NOTE: Some parts might be subject to long delivery times due to limited availability. Details will be announced at the time of each sales launch.

For the latest information on GR parts, please see the following:
https://toyotagazooracing.com/jp/gr/grparts/ (in Japanese)

7. GR Heritage Parts

The GR Heritage Parts Project is an initiative to reissue discontinued service parts and sell them anew as genuine parts to meet customers’ desires to keep on driving their beloved cars full of memories. In 2025, TGR plans to release 25 items for seven models, including the 70/80 Supra, AE86, and Land Cruiser 40, some of which will be exhibited at Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.

Also, TGR is reprinting for sale long-requested, nostalgia-inducing brochures of GR Heritage Parts vehicle models and other classic cars. The brochures can be purchased at Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 and through the online TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Rakuten Ichiba store^*3.

For details, please see the following:
https://toyotagazooracing.com/gr/heritage/

8. LAND CRUISER BASE

The Land Cruiser―a vehicle that allows people to go anywhere and everywhere and return safely―has been nurtured and honed by Toyota customers around the world for more than 70 years. Desiring to have customers long-lastingly enjoy using their Land Cruisers with a sense of security, the Land Cruiser specialty store LAND CRUISER BASE will be reborn on February 1, 2025, with Toyota Motor Corporation serving as its main business entity.

Working together with colleagues such as Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd., which has thus far been the store’s main business entity, and other related companies that support the Land Cruiser, Toyota will operate LAND CRUISER BASE as a specialty store that will serve as a place for Toyota to deepen its ties with customers, offer various services and activities based on customer feedback, such as planning and selling original parts and goods, create a community in which customers come together, and host events.

To view the LAND CRUISER BASE teaser site, please see the following:
https://toyota.jp/info/landcruiserbase (in Japanese)

About TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing

ROOKIE Racing is a privateer team that focuses on making ever-better cars and developing human resources through the skills and dedication of various drivers, including Toyota’s master driver, professional drivers, gentleman drivers, and Toyota’s in-house evaluation drivers. TGR and ROOKIE Racing’s hitherto relationship was one of TGR taking the lead in car manufacturing and human resource development, with ROOKIE Racing being a privateer team that competes in motorsports as part of such TGR activities.

Going forward, TGR and ROOKIE Racing will work together under the banner of “TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing” as “development partners who engage with cars and people on the front line, using driving data from races and other extreme conditions as a common language” to take the making of ever-better motorsports-bred cars and human resources development to the next level.

Specifically, TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing intends to hone the GR YARIS (NÜR 24h) in the NLS and the GR YARIS M Concept in the Super Taikyu Series.

About TGR’s global motorsports structure

Through such initiatives as its partnership with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, Hitech TGR’s driver development activities in Europe, and the establishment of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Development, TGR is promoting efforts to hone the three elements of motorsports: people, product, and pipeline. Furthermore, to seamlessly advance the development of people, environments, and systems in motorsports, TGR is strengthening its global motorsports structure by positioning Morizo at the top and assigning two direct-report global directors. It is also bolstering cooperation with related organizations, affiliated companies, racing teams, and TGR’s bases of operations in Japan and overseas, as well as promoting people development and environment creation.

Las Vegas, USA―At CES 2025, Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) announced the completion of Phase 1 construction of Toyota Woven City (“Woven City”), its test course for mobility. The launch of Phase 1 is planned for fall 2025 or shortly thereafter.

Toyota first announced its transformation into a mobility company at CES 2018 and, at CES 2020, unveiled the Woven City concept being developed in collaboration with Woven by Toyota (“WbyT”) to demonstrate Toyota’s long-term commitment to shaping the future of mobility.

Woven City has made steady progress since its groundbreaking ceremony on February 23, 2021, at the former site of Toyota Motor East Japan’s (“TMEJ”) Higashi-Fuji Plant in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Construction of Phase 1 buildings―the initial area for co-creation activities―was completed in October 2024. Preparations for the official launch are now underway.

Woven City’s Phase 1 has also previously been recognized for its environmentally conscious and human-centric design aimed at enhancing people’s overall quality of life. It earned Japan’s first LEED for Communities^* Platinum certification, the system’s highest rank.

Alongside Phase 1 preparations, renovation of a former TMEJ Higashi-Fuji Plant facility into a manufacturing hub for Woven City is underway, and site preparation work for Phase 2 has commenced. Insights from Phase 1 will help refine plans for Phase 2 and future phases, and continually enhance the test course’s functionality.

Woven City is a test course for mobility where “Inventors” who share a commitment to working “for someone other than themselves” can develop, test, and validate innovative products and services. These inventors include Toyota and Toyota Group companies, such as WbyT, as well as external companies, startups, and individual entrepreneurs. By leveraging Toyota’s decades-long manufacturing expertise and WbyT’s software capabilities, Woven City offers a unique environment equipped with the tools and services needed to tackle societal challenges and create future-focused value. Through collaboration among inventors and feedback from residents and visitors, Woven City aims to drive innovation and shape a better tomorrow.

The inventors of Woven City who have been confirmed so far are as follows.

Inventors

Alphabetical order as of January 7, 2025

Woven City is also in continued discussions with previously announced companies such as ENEOS Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and Rinnai Corporation.

External startups, entrepreneurs, universities and research institutions are also scheduled to be invited to Woven City through an accelerator program, starting in summer 2025.

Residents and visitors will play an equally vital role alongside inventors in Woven City. Known as ‘Weavers,’ these individuals share a passion for the ‘expansion of mobility’ and a commitment to building a more flourishing society. Through their participation in co-creation activities, Weavers will contribute to realizing the full potential of Woven City.

At the official launch of Woven City, starting in fall 2025 or thereafter, approximately 100 residents―primarily Toyota and WbyT staff and their families―are expected to participate in co-creation activities as the first residents. The community will then gradually expand to include external inventors and their families. Phase 1 is projected to accommodate around 360 residents, with the total population, including Phase 2 and subsequent phases, expected to reach approximately 2,000. Initially, visitors will be limited to related parties, with plans to welcome the general public to participate as Weavers in co-creation activities starting in FY2026 or thereafter.

Woven City also serves as a test course for Toyota’s transformation into a mobility company. Together, Toyota and WbyT aim to redefine mobility, expanding its scope beyond transportation to encompass the movement of people, goods, information, and energy for the benefit of individuals and society. Designed as a human-centered city, Woven City places the people who gather there―Inventors and Weavers―at its center to unlock new possibilities in the shared pursuit of “Well-being for All”. With an eye on expanding mobility from land, sea, and air to space, WbyT also announced an investment in Interstellar Technologies Inc. and will leverage Toyota’s expertise to support the mass production of rockets.

Woven City Phase 1 Basic Information

About Woven by Toyota

Woven by Toyota, a part of the Toyota Group, is challenging the current state of mobility through human-centric innovation and empowering mobility transformation. Through our AD/ADAS technology, our automotive software development platform Arene OS, our mobility test course Toyota Woven City, and Toyota’s growth fund, Woven Capital, we are pioneering the movement of people, goods, information, and energy, weaving a future of enhanced safety, connectivity and well-being for all.

Top management from four Toyota Group companies—Hino Motors, Daihatsu Motor, Toyota Industries Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corporation—together with the employees, donned their work clothes and went to the genba to put their heads together and face the issues.

Since 2022, the Toyota Group has faced ongoing certification issues*. Last February, Chairman Akio Toyoda established Akio Toyoda’s Juku TPS Jishuken for Certification Work to ensure the same mistakes are not made again.

* Group companies were carrying out certification testing necessary to apply for type approval to mass-produce car models using standards that differed from the ones set by the government.

Their goal was to use kaizen to create better systems for work. Their target was not only the certification work itself but the entire process leading up to certification, including planning, development, design, and production preparation.

Using the material and information flow diagram, they clarified the overall system behind their work, making it easy to see delays caused by re-dos and reworkings. This helped identify the true causes and implement countermeasures using genchi-genbutsu.

Early lessons from the TPS Jishuken included that to apply for certification for one model requires 1,300 pages of paperwork, that pressure to stick to the schedule piles up on the certification genba, and that there is anxiety about being able to perform the test correctly in one try due to the extreme pressure.

As the person responsible for guiding the Group, Chairman Toyoda is in charge of the activities. He praised the genba and offered some advice, saying, “I think we came to understand a lot of things we didn’t know before. Starting to understand is the first step forward.” “Don’t look for someone to blame for problems. Look at what happened. That’s the culture we need to create first and foremost.”

The aim is to build a system where it’s possible to find the issue and take action as soon as something happens.

From minivehicles to heavy-duty vehicles to engines, the four companies are deepening their connections and working together, sharing industry issues and developing case studies.

Source: https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/100.html?padid=ag478_from_newsroom

At CFAO Mobility Zambia, we believe that continuous learning and skill enhancement are key to delivering the exceptional service our customers expect. That’s why, throughout the year, our teams are engaged in a blend of practical and online training designed to refine their skills, expand their knowledge, and keep them at the forefront of industry standards.

This year’s journey towards the highly anticipated Toyota National Skills Contest, held on Saturday, 9th November 2024, at the Nangwenya Toyota branch in Lusaka, is a perfect example of how our commitment to professional development culminates in a celebration of excellence.

Over the past year, employees from our Vehicle Sales, Parts, and Service departments participated in a series of online learning sessions and hands-on practical training. These sessions were designed to challenge them, expose them to real-life scenarios, and equip them with the skills needed to excel in their respective fields. By the time the contest arrived, our teams had already undergone rigorous training that tested their ability to apply what they had learned in realistic, competitive environments.

The Toyota National Skills Contest is not just a one-day event; it is the pinnacle of months of hard work and dedication. Employees from all five branches came together to compete in a series of tasks and challenges that tested their skills in real-world sales, service, and parts operations. The competition was fierce, with participants demonstrating a deep understanding of industry practices, technical expertise, and customer service excellence.

This contest, now in its 10th year, has become a cornerstone of our culture, encouraging growth, fostering innovation, and boosting morale. It’s a platform where the brightest minds of CFAO Mobility Zambia come to showcase their abilities, and where the winners are celebrated not only for their talent but also for their commitment to continuous improvement.

Celebrating Success and Continuous Improvement

We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s contest, whose dedication and expertise stood out among their peers. But beyond the awards and recognition, the real success is in the growth and development of every participant.

Here’s a look at the 2024 Toyota National Skills Contest Results:

Vehicle Sales Advisors

• 1st Place: Monde Siwale – Toyota Solwezi
• 2nd Place: Mwaka Mukela – Toyota Nangwenya
• 3rd Place: Masiliso Nyambe – Toyota Livingstone
• 4th Place: Ethel Mitti – Toyota Cairo Road
• 5th Place: Rita Kasakwa – Toyota Nangwenya

Technicians

• 1st Place: Henschels Chilufya – Wila Motors Kasama (ASC)
• 2nd Place: Daniel Miselo – Toyota Solwezi
• 3rd Place: Archie Musonda – Toyota Nangwenya
• 4th Place: Gerald Mumba – Toyota Kitwe
• 5th Place: Albert Phiri – Toyota Nangwenya

Parts Sales

• 1st Place: Mataka Mbangweta – Wila Motors Kasama (ASC)
• 2nd Place: Patric Lwipa – Toyota Nangwenya
• 3rd Place: Jethro Nyirongo – Toyota Solwezi
• 4th Place: Virgin Milinga – Toyota Cairo Road
• 5th Place: Stanley Mulonga – Toyota Solwezi

Parts Stores

• 1st Place: Juma Ndekela – Toyota Cairo Road
• 2nd Place: Derby Mushokabanji – Toyota Livingstone
• 3rd Place: Belly Makabakano – Toyota Nangwenya
• 4th Place: Motson Mudenda- Toyota Nangwenya
• 5th Place: James Kunda – Toyota Kitwe

National Vehicle Sales

• 1st Place: Chimfwembe Mwambazi – Toyota Cairo Road
• 2nd Place: Namangolwa Meleka – Toyota Cairo Road
• 3rd Place: Raymond Samulela – Toyota Nangwenya
• 4th Place: Valarie Mumba – Toyota Nagwenya
• 5th Place: Alinedi Daka – Toyota Cairo Road

A huge congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and outstanding achievements! As we look forward to the regional competition in South Africa next year, we encourage all participants to continue sharpening their skills, setting their sights on even greater accomplishments.

This year’s National Skills Contest not only highlighted the skills of our top performers but also reinforced the importance of year-round training. Through online learning and practical sessions, we continue to push the boundaries of what we can achieve, ensuring that CFAO Mobility Zambia remains a leader in the automotive industry.

As we celebrate another successful contest, we remain committed to the growth and development of our people, knowing that their success is the foundation of our continued corporate achievements.

Here’s to the future, where every skill learned today leads to even greater success tomorrow!