Toyota Group’s New Corporate Structure Aimed at Strengthening Production in Japan
- Conversion of Toyota Auto Body and Kanto Auto Works to wholly-owned subsidiaries, and discussion regarding a possible merger and integration of three group companies in the Tohoku area.
Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota” (President: Akio Toyoda)) and subsidiaries Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. (“Toyota Auto Body” (President: Takuji Amioka)) and Kanto Auto Works, Ltd. (“Kanto Auto Works” (President: Tetsuo Hattori)) have reached an agreement with respect to the conversion of Toyota Auto Body and Kanto Auto Works to wholly-owned subsidiaries of Toyota through share exchanges (expected January 2012).
In addition, Kanto Auto Works, Central Motor Co., Ltd. (“Central Motor” (President: Toru Kuzuhara)) and Toyota Motor Tohoku Corporation (“Toyota Tohoku” (President: Masami Sugiyama)) have reached an agreement to begin discussions for the proposed merger and integration of the three companies (targeted July 2012).
Toyota believes that the new corporate structure resulting from these agreements will maximize the strengths of each Toyota group company, enable Toyota to utilize its group resources to the fullest extent and further advance monozukuri (conscientious manufacturing) in Japan.
(1) New roles for Toyota Auto Body and Kanto Auto Works aimed at strengthening their areas of specialization
Historically, the Toyota group automobile manufacturers have supported the global development of Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles primarily through the development and production of individual vehicle models. Moving forward, each group automobile manufacturer will be actively involved in the integrated planning, development and production of specific vehicle types.
Because Toyota believes that enabling management to make decisions that are in line with the group’s overall direction and increasing speed of management are crucial in order to facilitate these structural changes, it reached mutual agreements with Toyota Auto Body and Kanto Auto Works.
Through this new corporate structure, each vehicle manufacturer will be further specialized and will be better able to pay close attention and respond quickly to the preferences of customers around the world. Furthermore, Toyota believes that this further advances monozukuri in Japan.
In addition, Toyota is working to develop vehicles targeted at overseas markets, support the preparation of overseas production, and strengthen its capabilities for the overseas expansion of vehicle related operations).
Toyota Auto Body intends to assume a more active and substantial role within the Toyota group, including:
1. the integrated planning, development and production of specific vehicle models such as minivans, commercial vehicles and SUVs (including frames);
2. the expansion of the overseas production of parts, components and vehicles and the global development of custom vehicles and vehicle accessories; and
3. the global development of welfare vehicles and ultra-compact electric vehicles, in which Toyota Auto Body specializes.
Kanto Auto Works intends to:
1. assume an active role in the planning, development and production of globally competitive compact vehicles; and
2. assume a more active role supporting development and production of vehicles overseas and production of parts and components, primarily with respect to compact vehicles.
*Please refer to the Appendix for outlines of the share exchanges.
(2) Discussion regarding a possible merger and integration of Kanto Auto Works, Central Motor and Toyota Tohoku
Kanto Auto Works, Central Motor and Toyota Tohoku will begin discussion towards a merger and integration that would result in the creation of Toyota’s Tohoku area manufacturing hub, Toyota’s third national manufacturing hub following Chubu and Kyushu. Toyota believes that further solidifying the three hubs of its domestic production base and building on their independence will further strengthen monozukuri in Japan.
The resulting company would work to become a comprehensive automobile manufacturer that manufactures unit parts and supports overseas operations, in addition to the planning, development and production of compact cars.
Going forward, in line with the strengthening of Tohoku, Toyota expects Chubu to become the hub for technological innovation and Kyushu to become the hub for mid-sized and Lexus brand vehicle production. Each hub is expected to develop its strengths in order to promote shared growth.
Through the newly announced corporate structure, Toyota believes it will make substantial progress towards its goal of producing vehicles that “bring a smile to every customer who chooses it”, as presented in the “Toyota Global Vision” released in March 2011.
