Toyota Promotes North American Manufacturing Executives

ERLANGER, Ky., March 12 -- Toyota announced today the promotions of several senior level managers at the automakers' North American manufacturing facilities and headquarters.

"This will be an exciting and challenging year for Toyota's North American manufacturing operations," said Atsushi Niimi, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.

"With several production shifts, the opening of our new V8 engine plant, the start of the production of North American-built Lexus vehicles, and the announcement of our newest plant in San Antonio, these executives will certainly have their hands full. We have every confidence that they will lead us through 2003 and beyond."

The promotions are as follows:

David Copenhaver, Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Inc. General Manager, Administration, promoted to Vice President, Administration and Production Control. Prior to joining Toyota in 1997, David spent over twenty- four years in the economic development profession throughout the southeastern U.S.

Wil James, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. General Manager, General Assembly, promoted to Vice President, Plastics and General Assembly. Wil joined Toyota in 1987 and has held a variety of positions in Facilities Control and Production Office Administration at TMMK.

Brian Krinock, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. Asst. General Manager, Production Engineering, Project Management Office, promoted to General Manager, Production Engineering, Project Management Office. Brian joined Toyota in 1991 and has held various positions within the Production Engineering Division. He has been involved in several of the North American plant start-up operations relating to body welding, assembly, paint and plastics. Currently, Brian is the Chief Production Engineer for the all-new Camry Solara. Following this assignment, Brian will rotate to General Manager of Purchasing.

David Burbidge, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. Asst. General Manager, Production Control, Production Planning Management, promoted to General Manager, Production Control, Production Planning Management with dual responsibility for Strategic Production Planning, Corporate Strategy Division. Dave began his career with Toyota in 1983 at Toyota Canada, Inc., the company's Canadian sales arm. In 1988, he moved to company's Cambridge, Ontario vehicle plant, and ten years later, moved to TMMNA.

Joe DaRosa, Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California S. de R.L. de C.V. Asst. General Manager, Production Control, promoted to General Manager, Manufacturing. Joe joined Toyota in 1975 at TABC, Toyota's parts plant in Long Beach, California. He has worked for TMMNA and Toyota's assembly plant in Princeton, Indiana prior to beginning his assignment for TMMBC.

Doug Betts, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Inc. Assistant General Manager, Quality Planning, promoted to General Manager, Quality Planning and a member of the Management Steering Committee. Doug joined TMMI in 1997 in the Quality Planning Division.

By 2006, Toyota will have capacity to build 1.65 million cars and trucks a year and 1.52 million engines and automatic transmissions in North America. Toyota currently employs some 34,000 people throughout North America. The company's direct investment is nearly $14 billion with annual parts, materials, goods and services purchased from North American suppliers totaling nearly $20 billion. Toyota's North American-produced vehicles include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra. Beginning in the fall of 2003, the Lexus RX 330 will be produced at the automaker's plant in Ontario, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.