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Robert D. Weldon Jr. To Be Named President Of Toyota De Puerto Rico

24 June 1999

Robert D. Weldon Jr. To Be Named President Of Toyota De Puerto Rico

    TORRANCE, Calif., June 24 -- Robert D. Weldon Jr., executive
vice president of Toyota de Puerto Rico Corp. (TDPR), will become the
president of TDPR on July 1, 1999. Weldon replaces Kunihiko Kato, who will
assume new responsibilities with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Toyota's
Japan-based parent company.
    In his new position, Weldon will oversee the ownership transition of TDPR
from TMC to Toyota's U.S sales and marketing arm, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.,
Inc. (TMS) and will be responsible for the island-wide operations of TDPR.
    Since joining Toyota in 1978, Weldon has held several key management
positions including assistant general manager, Portland region; general
manager, Kansas City region; general manager, Los Angeles region; general
manager, Cincinnati region; vice president of marketing and series team vice
president. Before joining TDPR earlier this year, Weldon served as vice
president, dealer relations for Toyota Motor Corporate Credit Corporation, a
wholly owned subsidiary of TMS which provides financial services to authorized
Toyota and Lexus dealers throughout the U. S.
    Prior to joining Toyota, Weldon spent three years with American Motors
Corporation and five years with Ford Motor Company in various management
positions. He earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business
administration from the University of Michigan.
    Weldon will report to Don Esmond, TMS group vice president and general
manager, Toyota Division. When the acquisition of TDPR is finalized this
summer, TDPR, Puerto Rico's exclusive distributor of Toyota and Lexus
vehicles, will become a subsidiary of TMS.
    Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, TDPR employs 148 associates.
    TMS, established in 1957, employs nearly 8,000 associates at its
headquarters in California and at other locations across the United States.