Toyota Australia Licenses Vignette V6 to Put Prius Hybrid-Technology Car Online
AUSTIN, Texas--Dec. 13, 2001--Toyota Australia Uses Unique Car and New Web Site to Streamline Sales
and Marketing Supply Chain While Improving Customer Service
Toyota Motor Corp. Australia, a division of Toyota Motor Corp., makers of the world's first mass-produced hybrid-technology car -- known as Prius -- today announced that it has selected Vignette(R) integrated content management applications to power its e-business initiatives.
The Prius Web site, http://www.prius.toyota.com.au/, is the first of a series of updated Toyota Australia sites that will use Vignette's content and personalization technology to provide highest-quality online customer support and dealer services.
With this purchase, Toyota has also indicated its intent for Vignette software to become the common platform for all Toyota Australia's future e-business initiatives.
"We are using this unique car and this new Web site to improve the quality of information available to customers, and as a test bed to streamline our sales and marketing supply chain," said John Holden, manager of e-business at Toyota Australia. "The main objective of the project is to enhance customer service and to improve the speed and efficiencies of getting cars from manufacturer to customer. The site integrates with their SAP ERP system, and our dealer network is designed to direct customers to local or preferred dealers. Information from the online interaction will give dealers a heads up on customers' needs."
"The Toyota Australia deal strengthens Vignette's global position within the automotive sector," said Dan J. Lautenbach, senior vice president of Global Sales and Operations at Vignette. "Car buyers rely heavily on Web sites for news and information, and now they'll be able to easily access useful information on Toyota's Prius."
"Vignette applications will help Toyota Australia integrate content across the entire business, paving the way for further e-business initiatives, including B2B developments with Toyota Australia's dealership, manufacturing and supplier chains," Holden said.
The Prius is the first car to offer Toyota's hybrid-system technology combining internal combustion and electric power for about twice the fuel and emissions efficiency in city driving. More than 50,000 Priuses have been sold worldwide, and the car will be available in Australia in coming weeks. The Prius site has been designed and implemented by Vignette's integration partner, HotHouse Interactive.
About Toyota Australia
Toyota Australia represents the successful marriage of Australian and Japanese expertise in high-quality motor vehicle manufacture and marketing. The company's Head Office and manufacturing operations are located in Melbourne while its Sales and Marketing activities are Sydney-based.
Toyota Australia's world-class Altona plant in Melbourne produces the Camry and Avalon car ranges. These vehicles make extensive use of locally produced components and enjoy a fine reputation for reliability, durability and economy. Exports of Altona-manufactured Camry vehicles have risen steadily and will approach 50,000 this year, making Toyota Australia the nation's largest export manufacturer.
In addition to its locally built models, Toyota imports a variety of cars from Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan. These include Celica, MR2, Corolla, Echo and the luxury Lexus LS430, SC430, LX470, GS300, ES300, IS300 and IS200. The Lexus models, designed and built to compete with the best the world automotive industry can offer, are marketed under their own brand name. This year Toyota Australia assumed responsibility for the Daihatsu vehicle range and the associated dealer network.
Toyota also imports Australia's best-selling range of commercial and four-wheel-drive vehicles including LandCruiser, Prado, HiLux, RAV4, HiAce, TownAce, Tarago, Dyna and Coaster models.
In addition, Toyota imports and distributes the Toyota Industrial Equipment range of products, including forklifts, skid-steer loaders and towing tractors.
The Altona plant began production in July 1994 and was commissioned officially in March 1995. The investment demonstrates Toyota's long-term commitment to car manufacture in Australia and is part of the company's strategy to be internationally competitive and develop substantial export markets.
About Vignette
Vignette is the leading provider of integrated content management applications used by the most successful organizations in the world to interact online with their customers, employees and partners. By combining content management with integration and analysis applications, Vignette enables organizations to deliver personalized information wherever it is needed, integrate online and enterprise systems, and provide real-time analysis of the customer experience. Vignette powers more than 1,300 leading organizations and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. Vignette has offices located throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and in Australia, and can be found on the Web at http://www.vignette.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements including statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Toyota's success with Vignette software, future sales, market growth and competition. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Actual results could differ materially from the Company's current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, Future Losses, Limited Operating History, Fluctuation of Quarterly Revenues and Operating Results, Competition, Dependence on a Small Number of Large Orders, Lengthy Sales Cycle and Product Implementation, Acquisition Integration, Market Awareness of Our Product, Rapid Changes in E-Relationships Technology and New Products, and other factors and risks discussed in the Company's 10K, as amended and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Vignette is a registered trademark of Vignette Corp. in the United States and foreign countries.
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