Toyota mobilizes massive global resources in fight vs. Coronavirus (COVID-19)COVID-19

MANILA:  Toyota Motor Company (TMC) is activating assets around the world and launching a major offensive versus the COVID-19 pandemic.

Akio Toyoda, president of TMC, has announced that the world’s largest automaker will be utilizing its global supply chain and its know-how of manufacturing and logistics in the fight against the virus.

And it won’t just be Toyota, too. Its subsidiaries and partners as well have been recruited to be part of primary initiatives and measures to assist frontliners, medical professionals, and patients all around the world.

Face masks

Toyota's Teiho Plant in Japan is preparing to produce injection mold medical face shields with an anticipated starting production volume of 500 to 600 per week. The company is also starting to evaluate the possibility of other group companies also joining in on the production.

In China and Europe, TMC overseas affiliates have made monetary contribution to the Red Cross Society of China and donated medical supplies (including face masks for medical workers, protective gear, medical caps, and disinfectant).

Other countries in Asia have also received medical face shields (protective masks), and protective gear.

Affiliates in North America and Europe are set make 3D-printed medical face shields (protective masks) as well as face masks after initially donating face masks and hygienic products (including shoe covers, gloves, cotton wool) to local medical facilities and emergency response services.

Ventilators

Toyota Production System (TPS) is lending its expertise to medical equipment manufacturers to accelerate production of ventilators. A TPS support team has been created and will immediately dispatched to companies struggling to rapidly increase production of the medical equipment.

Supply chain

Toyota is leveraging its supply chain to procure hygienic products that include face masks, personal protective equipment, and thermometers, among other items.

Vehicle assistance

European affiliates are now offering vehicles, car-rental, and free roadside assistance to health or related public support staff.

In Asia, shuttles have been provided by Toyota Mobility Foundation including demo and test units dispatched by Toyota Motor Philippines for use by healthcare workers and others involved in infectious disease prevention.

Toyota Group of Companies

Aisin Seiki Co. and Denso Corporation, both party owned by TMC, are also pitching in. Aisin is working on production of other equipment that may be medically necessary, such as makeshift beds for hospitals, disinfectant containers, and simple partition walls for use at medical facilities, while Denso is already participating in a project run by Canadian company D-wave, where access to a quantum computer is provided for free, to support research being done by various countries for drug development and infection control.

Also read: Toyota PH lends 47 vehicles to pandemic frontliners