Toyota Motor Corporation has started the operations of its research and development hub, Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama. This facility, located in mountainous region between Toyota and Okazaki, serves as the nucleus for vehicle development endeavors. It aims to advance Toyota’s commitment to crafting superior automobiles, offering rigorous testing grounds with diverse terrains to refine vehicles and the individuals behind their creation.
Construction of the facility commenced in April 2018, with the central area operational by April 2019, and the eastern area, featuring specialized test courses, in October 2021. It has facilitated the development of new models like the Lexus IS, ensuring refined vehicles reach global customers.
The western area, including a new vehicle development building and a visitor building, is fully operational. The vehicle development building acts as a hub for Lexus and GR companies, fostering collaborative development across functions like planning, design, engineering, and evaluation.
The visitor building promotes co-creation with partners and suppliers, fostering innovation through interactive experiences with cars unique to a development center.
Environmental preservation was key to building Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama. Approximately 60% of the 650-hectare site comprises preserved original trees and greenery, with newly developed green spaces. The Environmental Learning Center, completed in March 2023, fosters community engagement for environmental conservation, including satoyama experiences. In this regards, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, said, “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. 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. 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.”
