Toyota opens new R&D facility

MANILA: Toyota Motor Corporation has opened a new research and development facility in Japan.

Dubbed Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama, the said complex will drive vehicle development for the Aichi-headquartered carmaker. The center will also serve as “a place where roads refine cars and the people who make them.”

Construction of the facility began in April 2018.

“It has been nearly 30 years since the conceptualization of this project began. We have been committed to making this facility a place that would bring smiles to the faces of everyone living in the community and make them happy that Toyota came to Shimoyama. This ‘everyone’ includes not only the humans who are here today but also the plants and animals who have lived here even longer,” Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said in a press release.

Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama is located in a mountainous area straddling the cities of Toyota and Okazaki. It features exacting test courses with numerous elevation differences and curves that take advantage of Shimoyama's natural terrain.

Per the Japanese automotive titan, Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama has three areas, namely the Western Area, Central Area, and Eastern Area.

The Western Area consists of the Visitor Building and the Vehicle Development Building while the Central Area boasts a Country Road-Test Course. Meanwhile, the Eastern Area features a Specialized Test Course with a High-Speed Test Course and an Environmental Learning Center.

“We have received a great deal of cooperation from Aichi Prefecture, Toyota City, Okazaki City, and other government agencies in our efforts to coexist with this community. We would also like to thank all the residents of the Shimoyama and Matsudaira areas for their great understanding and support during the long construction period and for the many years to come. Around 3,000 people, including development members and test drivers from GR and Lexus, will drive, break, and improve cars here. The more we drive and break cars, the ever-better they become,” Toyoda continued.

“As a master driver myself, I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time driving around the roads of Shimoyama. The roads of Shimoyama make the car... Although it is not a production plant, Shimoyama-made cars will drive on every road in the world and bring smiles to many people’s faces. We would like to express our gratitude for everyone’s support and once more express Toyota’s dedication to making ever-better cars, which will accelerate even more in Shimoyama. Thank you again for your cooperation throughout this project,” he concluded.

Photos from Toyota Motor Corporation

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