Toyota City, Japan, Dec 4, 2012 - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that today the cumulative total number of visitors to the Toyota Kaikan Museum and participants in plant tours(1) near TMC Head Office here has broken the 15 million mark. The milestone was reached 52 years after full-scale acceptance of visitors began in 1960.
During a commemorative ceremony at the Toyota Kaikan Museum conducted today, Senior Managing Officer Shigeru Hayakawa presented a certificate and a small-scale model of the historic "Toyoda Model AA"(2) passenger car to a group of fifth-grade students from Kano Elementary School in Gifu Prefecture who broke the 15 million mark.
The students were also presented with demonstrations of the "i-REAL" future personal mobility vehicle and the "Camatte", a concept vehicle drivable by children that can be customized with different combinations of colors and designs.
Ever since the completion of the Toyota Hall - the predecessor to the Toyota Kaikan Museum - in 1960, TMC has aimed to make facilities accessible to the public and to welcome as many visitors as possible. These efforts have been aimed at deepening public understanding of Toyota's approach to automobile manufacturing and of the automobile industry. In recent years, TMC has welcomed approximately 300,000 visitors of all ages annually, including approximately 70,000 elementary school students.
Photographs and past leaflets from the museum detailing its history, along with commemorative goods, will be displayed in the Toyota Kaikan Museum entrance hall until December 27.
Overview of the Toyota Kaikan Museum
Location: 1 Toyota-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan (within the TMC Head Office grounds)
Opened: November 1977
Description: The museum presents information through video and exhibits on the more-prosperous society TMC seeks and the latest advances in automobile manufacturing
Web site: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/about_toyota/facility/toyota_kaikan/index.html
(1) TMC's Motomachi, Takaoka and Tsutsumi plants
(2) Production began in 1936
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of March 2012, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 50 overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions. Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 160 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.
Contact:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Public Affairs Division
Tel: +81-3-3817-9150