---

Toyota's North American Plants Receive ISO 14001 Certification

28 April 1999

Toyota's North American Plants Receive ISO 14001 Certification of Environmental Management Systems

    ERLANGER, Ky., April 28 -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing North
America, Inc. (TMMNA) announced today that all seven of its established
manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada have received certification by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to the ISO 14001
standard.
    ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that deals specifically with a company's
environmental management system.  The certification process verifies that each
Toyota plant has a formal environmental policy as well as a management system
designed to track the plant's environmental performance and established
mechanisms for continuous improvement.
    According to Russell Thornton, lead ISO auditor and manager of
environmental certification at Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Certification, Inc.,
"Toyota's commitment to ISO 14001 and the quality of its environmental
management systems in North America reflects its dedication to excellence
beyond the manufacturing of automobiles and components.  It includes a genuine
concern for the community in which it operates."
    Toyota was the first auto maker to secure ISO 14001 certification to the
full ISO 14001 standard in the United Kingdom and in Japan.  Certification of
the North American plants brings the company ever-closer to its goal to
implement ISO 14001 environmental standards at all of its major manufacturing
facilities worldwide by the end of fiscal year 1998.  This is one year ahead
of the original schedule.
    "The ISO environmental standard emphasizes proactive management and total
employee involvement," said Teruyuki Minoura, president and CEO of TMMNA. "It
makes environmental awareness everyone's business inside our plants and we are
very supportive of that philosophy."
    Kevin Butt, Assistant General Manager of Environmental Affairs at TMMNA
added, "ISO 14001 certification is a natural development of Toyota's
manufacturing philosophy, which seeks to reduce waste and improve quality in
all areas of production.  These standards can only make our already good
environmental management systems even better."
    The North American plants, in order of certification, are as follows:
    * Canadian Autoparts Toyota, Inc. (CAPTIN) in Delta, British Columbia
    * TABC in Long Beach, California
    * New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) a Toyota-General Motors
      joint venture in Fremont, California
    * Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK) in Georgetown, Kentucky
    * Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario
    * Two plant locations of Bodine Aluminum in St. Louis and Troy, Missouri

    Toyota's two newest plants in Indiana and West Virginia, now in the start-
up phases of production, will also be seeking certification.  Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton, plans to receive certification by
November 1999.  Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia (TMMWV) in Buffalo
is now preparing for implementation of the standard. Additionally, Toyota's
forklift manufacturing plant, Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing, Inc.
(TIEM) in Columbus, Indiana, is expected to receive certification in June of
this year, and TMMNA, Toyota's manufacturing headquarters in Erlanger,
Kentucky, plans to be certified by December 1999.
    ISO 14001 certification remains valid for three years and requires audits
performed at least annually.  Toyota's plants have opted for audits to be
performed every six months.