Toyota Motor North America Names Patricia Pineda Group Vice President of Corporate Communications & General Counsel

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2004 -- Toyota Motor North America, Inc. ("TMA") today announced that Patricia Pineda has been named Group Vice President of Corporate Communications and General Counsel at the company's New York office.

Reporting to Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of TMA, Pineda will be responsible for public and investor relations, corporate advertising and philanthropy, including The Toyota U.S.A Foundation. She will also work closely with Toyota's Diversity Advisory Board. As General Counsel, she will be responsible for TMA's legal matters.

"Pat Pineda brings a wealth of experience to TMA that will benefit us in every aspect of corporate communications," said Cuneo. "I look forward to working with her as we continue to expand Toyota's role as a valued corporate citizen of North America."

Prior to joining TMA, Pineda was a twenty-year veteran of New United Motor Manufacturing ("NUMMI"), Toyota's joint venture with General Motors Corp. Most recently she served as Vice President, Human Resources and Legal as well as Corporate Secretary. As Vice President of Human Resources, she was responsible for all aspects of NUMMI's human resources functions, including leading the contract negotiations with the UAW. In addition, Pineda served as the company's general counsel and corporate secretary and was responsible for all corporate governance matters and government affairs.

"As Toyota continues to expand its role in the American business community, the corporate communications function is becoming increasingly important," said Pineda. "My intention is to build on my twenty-year association with Toyota as we look for ways to better serve our stakeholders as well as our affiliate companies throughout North America."

Pineda's many honors include being named one of Hispanic Magazine's "100 Most Influential Hispanics" as well as the 2003 "Latino Executive of the Year" by On Wheels, Inc. Her affiliations include serving as director at Levi Strauss & Co. as well as the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. She also serves as a trustee of The Rand Corporation.

  Pineda will assume her new role at Toyota effective September 1, 2004.

  About Toyota Motor North America

Toyota Motor North America, Inc., wholly owned by Toyota Motor Corporation , is the holding company for Toyota's U.S. sales and manufacturing companies. Direct functions include corporate communications, investor relations, corporate advertising, federal government, industry and regulatory affairs; market, economic and auto industry research; and the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation. In addition, the company coordinates the corporate planning, diversity and business activities of all Toyota companies in North America. Headquartered in New York, it has offices in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Fla.