Toyota Technology Lays Foundation for Future Corollas

Toyota Mississippi Donates Seven Trial Vehicles to Local Organizations

BLUE SPRINGS, MS -- July 08, 2014: Four local organizations benefitted from the donation of vehicles from Toyota Mississippi today. The cars, valued at nearly $103,000 are one way Toyota Mississippi supports organizations in the community.

Three Career and Technology Centers that serve Lee, Pontotoc and Union counties each received two trial vehicles. A replica of the first 11th Generation Corolla produced at Toyota Mississippi last fall was also donated to the Tupelo Automobile Museum.

“We are proud to partner with such great organizations,” said Kirk Manley, general manager of production control at Toyota Mississippi. “We challenge the Career and Technology Centers to take these cars and teach our children the highly technical skills this area needs to remain competitive, and we challenge the Museum to explain to every visitor the quality and pride our 2,000 team members put into each Corolla built at Toyota Mississippi.”

Trial vehicles are built to teach team members the automotive manufacturing processes. The vehicles are then donated to organizations to support vocational education training, work force development programs and safety training. Only non-operable vehicles, shell bodies or engines are approved for donation by Toyota manufacturing facilities.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc., (TMMMS) in Blue Springs produces the Toyota Corolla and employs 2,000 team members. The plant represents an investment of over $870 million and has the annual capacity to produce 170,000 Corollas. To date, Toyota Mississippi has contributed over $1. 5 million and over 10,000 volunteer hours to local community organizations.