Toyota Motor North America Expands Washington Government Relations Office

Adds Mark Johnson and David J. Vennett as National Managers

NEW YORK, Jan. 10 -- Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMA) today announced that the company has expanded its Washington, D.C. government relations office by naming Mark Johnson as National Manager, Government Affairs and David J. Vennett as National Manager, Government Affairs and Special Projects.

Both Johnson and Vennett will represent Toyota on industry matters before the Congress and the executive branch.

Johnson most recently served as Chief of Staff for Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and has also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for former representative Ed Bryant (R-TN). He also worked in the private sector as a lobbyist for a major engineering and construction company.

Vennett is the former Chief of Staff for the 2004 G8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia. A Bush appointee to the U.S. Department of State, he served in the Office of White House Liaison and as Special Adviser to the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. He also worked on the staff of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).

"As Toyota's investment and job creation in the United States continues to grow, it is increasingly important that we are well-represented in the automotive public policy debate," said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president at Toyota Motor North America. "We are very pleased to have Mark and David join our team and expect them both to make a significant contribution to Toyota's ongoing efforts in Washington."

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, DC and Miami, FL.