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This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 24, 2009. 5.C RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES Toyota’s research and development activities focus on the environment, vehicle safety, information technology and product development. Toyota’s environmental research and development activities focus on:
Toyota’s work in the area of vehicle safety is focused on the development of technologies designed to prevent accidents in the first instance, as well as the development of technologies that protect passengers and reduce the damage on impact in the event of an accident. Safety technologies in development include:
To expand the frontiers of safety technology in automobiles, Toyota completed in 1995 its first prototype Advanced Safety Vehicle, the ASV-1. The ASV-2, which was introduced in 2000, incorporates emerging technologies, such as an autonomous safety support system that uses CCD stereo cameras to recognize obstacles in traffic lanes and an infrastructure-harmonized safety support system to warn the driver of pedestrian crossings. In 2002, Toyota conducted road testing of the ASV-3, a prototype based on further improved
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Table of Contentsinfrastructure-harmonized system. With the February 2003 introduction of the Harrier models in Japan, Toyota became the first car manufacturer to implement a pre-crash safety system in its automobiles. This advanced system consists of pre-crash sensors that use millimeter wave radar to detect a possible collision, seat belts that tighten their hold on passengers when a collision is determined to be inevitable and a brake assist system that utilizes power-assisted braking to minimize the speed on impact. In February 2004, Toyota introduced the pre-collision safety system for the first time in the United States by equipping the LS430 with the above features and suspension control features that control nose dives when applying the brakes. In September 2006, at the time of introduction of LS460 in Japan, Toyota established the world’s first enhanced pre-crash safety system, which added functions to detect pedestrians in front, to support driver steering, and to react to vehicle collision. In February 2008, Toyota developed the world’s first driver monitoring pre-crash safety system for the Crown sold in Japan, that monitors whether the driver’s eyes are open, in addition to the face monitor which monitors the direction in which the driver is facing. Furthermore, in March 2009, Toyota developed and introduced the world’s first “front-side pre-crash safety system”, which detects possible head-on and front-side collisions such as at intersections, for the Crown Majesta. Toyota’s product development program uses a series of methods which are generally intended to promote timely and appropriate responses to changing market demand. These methods include:
In September 2002, Toyota and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (“Nissan”) entered into an agreement setting forth the basic terms of technical cooperation and other long-term projects involving hybrid systems. Pursuant to this agreement, Toyota has provided parts and components of the Camry Hybrid’s hybrid system to Nissan’s Altima Hybrid since 2006. In March 2004, Toyota and Ford Motor Company announced that they have entered into licensing agreements for patents related to hybrid systems and emissions purification. Pursuant to the agreements, Toyota will license, to Ford Motor Company, patents related to hybrid system control technology. Further, both companies agreed to a cross-licensing arrangement of emission purification technology patents for lean-burn engines. Toyota’s research and development expenditures were approximately ¥904 billion in fiscal 2009, ¥959 billion in fiscal 2008 and ¥891 billion in fiscal 2007. Worldwide, approximately 36,000 employees are involved in Toyota’s research and development activities. Toyota does not consider any one group of patents or licenses to be so important that their expiration or termination would materially affect Toyota’s business. For a further discussion of Toyota’s intellectual property, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Intellectual Property”. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 25, 2008. 5.C RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES Toyota’s research and development activities focus on the environment, vehicle safety, information technology and product development. Toyota’s environmental research and development activities focus on:
Toyota’s work in the area of vehicle safety is focused on the development of technologies designed to prevent accidents in the first instance, as well as the development of technologies that protect passengers and reduce the damage on impact in the event of an accident. Safety technologies in development include:
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Table of ContentsTo expand the frontiers of safety technology in automobiles, Toyota completed in 1995 its first prototype Advanced Safety Vehicle, the ASV-1. The ASV-2, which was introduced in 2000, incorporates emerging technologies, such as an autonomous safety support system that uses CCD stereo cameras to recognize obstacles in traffic lanes and an infrastructure-harmonized safety support system to warn the driver of pedestrian crossings. In 2002, Toyota conducted road testing of the ASV-3, a prototype based on further improved infrastructure-harmonized system. With the February 2003 introduction of the Harrier models in Japan, Toyota became the first car manufacturer to implement a pre-crash safety system in its automobiles. This advanced system consists of pre-crash sensors that use millimeter wave radar to detect a possible collision, seat belts that tighten their hold on passengers when a collision is determined to be inevitable and a brake assist system that utilizes power-assisted braking to minimize the speed on impact. In February 2004, Toyota introduced the pre-collision safety system for the first time in the United States by equipping the LS430 with the above features and suspension control features that control nose dives when applying the brakes. In September 2006, at the time of introduction of LS460 in Japan, Toyota established the world’s first enhanced pre-crash safety system, which added functions to detect pedestrians in front, to support driver steering, and to react to vehicle collision. Furthermore, in February 2008, Toyota developed the world’s first driver monitoring pre-crash safety system for the Crown sold in Japan, that monitors whether the driver’s eyes are open, in addition to the face monitor which monitors the direction in which the driver is facing. Toyota’s product development program uses a series of methods which are generally intended to promote timely and appropriate responses to changing market demand. These methods include:
In September 2002, Toyota and Nissan Motor Co. entered into an agreement setting forth the basic terms of technical cooperation and other long-term projects involving hybrid systems. This agreement calls for Toyota to supply state-of-the-art hybrid system components to Nissan for 5 years starting from 2006. In addition, with the aim of promoting technical cooperation, both companies agreed to exchange information on hybrid systems that both Toyota and Nissan are currently developing independently, and to discuss the joint development of related parts and components. In March 2004, Toyota and Ford Motor Company announced that they have entered into licensing agreements for patents related to hybrid systems and emissions purification. Pursuant to the agreements, Toyota will license, to Ford Motor Company, patents related to hybrid system control technology. Further, both companies agreed to a cross-licensing arrangement of emission purification technology patents for lean-burn engines. Toyota’s research and development expenditures were approximately ¥959 billion in fiscal 2008, ¥891 billion in fiscal 2007 and ¥813 billion in fiscal 2006. Worldwide, approximately 34,000 employees are involved in Toyota’s research and development activities. Toyota does not consider any one group of patents or licenses to be so important that their expiration or termination would materially affect Toyota’s business. For a further discussion of Toyota’s intellectual property, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Intellectual Property”. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 25, 2007. 5.C RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES Toyota’s research and development activities focus on the environment, vehicle safety, information technology and product development. Toyota’s environmental research and development activities focus on:
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Table of ContentsToyota’s work in the area of vehicle safety is focused on the development of technologies designed to prevent accidents in the first instance, as well as the development of technologies that protect passengers and reduce the damage on impact in the event of an accident. Safety technologies in development include:
To expand the frontiers of safety technology in automobiles, Toyota completed in 1995 its first prototype Advanced Safety Vehicle, the ASV-1. In 2000, Toyota created a successor prototype, the ASV-2. The ASV-2 incorporates emerging technologies, such as an autonomous safety support system that uses CCD stereo cameras to recognize obstacles in traffic lanes and an infrastructure-harmonized safety support system to warn the driver of pedestrian crossings. In 2002, Toyota conducted road testing of the ASV-3, a prototype based on further improved infrastructure-harmonized system. With the February 2003 introduction of the Harrier models in Japan, Toyota became the first car manufacturer to implement a pre-crash safety system in its automobiles. This advanced system consists of pre-crash sensors that use millimeter wave radar to detect a possible collision, seat belts that tighten their hold on passengers when a collision is determined to be inevitable and a brake assist system that utilizes power-assisted braking to minimize the speed on impact. In February 2004, Toyota introduced the pre-collision safety system for the first time in the United States by equipping the LS430 with the above features and suspension control features that control nose dives when applying the brakes. Toyota plans to further continue its focus on developing practical applications for its advanced safety technologies. In September 2006, at the time of introduction of LS460 in Japan, Toyota established the world’s first advanced pre-crash safety system by adding new functions to the existing pre-crash safety system. Toyota equipped the LS460 with such functions, enabling to detect pedestrians in front, to support driver steering, and to react to vehicles from behind. Toyota’s product development program uses a series of methods which are generally intended to promote timely and appropriate responses to changing market demand. These methods include:
In September 2002, Toyota and Nissan Motor Co. entered into an agreement setting forth the basic terms of technical cooperation and other long-term projects involving hybrid systems. This agreement calls for Toyota to supply state-of-the-art hybrid system components to Nissan for 5 years starting from 2006. In addition, with the aim of promoting technical cooperation, both companies agreed to exchange information on hybrid systems that both Toyota and Nissan are currently developing independently, and to discuss the joint development of related components. In March 2004, Toyota and Ford Motor Company announced that they have entered into licensing agreements for patents related to hybrid systems and emissions purification. Pursuant to the agreements, Toyota will license, to Ford Motor Company, patents related to hybrid system control technology. Further, both companies agreed to a cross-licensing arrangement of emission purification technology patents for lean-burn engines. Toyota’s research and development expenditures were approximately ¥891 billion in fiscal 2007, ¥813 billion in fiscal 2006 and ¥755 billion in fiscal 2005. Worldwide, approximately 33,000 employees are involved in Toyota’s research and development activities.
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Table of ContentsToyota does not consider any one group of patents or licenses to be so important that their expiration or termination would materially affect Toyota’s business. For a further discussion of Toyota’s intellectual property, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Intellectual Property”. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 26, 2006. 5.C RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES Toyota’s research and development activities focus on the environment, vehicle safety, information technology and product development. Toyota’s environmental research and development activities focus on:
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Table of Contents
Toyota’s work in the area of vehicle safety is focused on the development of technologies designed to prevent accidents in the first instance, as well as the development of technologies that protect passengers and reduce the damage on impact in the event of an accident. Safety technologies in development include:
To expand the frontiers of safety technology in automobiles, Toyota completed in 1995 its first prototype Advanced Safety Vehicle, the ASV-1. In 2000, Toyota created a successor prototype, the ASV-2. The ASV-2 incorporates emerging technologies, such as an autonomous safety support system that uses CCD stereo cameras to recognize obstacles in traffic lanes and an infrastructure-harmonized safety support system to warn the driver of pedestrian crossings. In 2002, Toyota conducted road testing of the ASV-3, a prototype based on further improved infrastructure-harmonized system. With the February 2003 introduction of the Harrier models in Japan, Toyota became the first car manufacturer to implement a pre-crash safety system in its automobiles. This advanced system consists of pre-crash sensors that use millimeter wave radar to detect a possible collision, seat belts that tighten their hold on passengers when a collision is determined to be inevitable and a brake assist system that utilizes power-assisted braking to minimize the speed on impact. In February 2004, Toyota introduced the pre-crash safety system for the first time in the United States by equipping the LS430 with the above features and suspension control features that control nose dives when applying the brakes. Toyota plans to further continue its focus on developing practical applications for its advanced safety technologies. Toyota’s product development program uses a series of methods which are generally intended to promote timely and appropriate responses to changing market demand. These methods include:
In September 2002, Toyota and Nissan Motor Co. entered into an agreement setting forth the basic terms of technical cooperation and other long-term projects involving hybrid systems. This agreement calls for Toyota to supply state-of-the-art hybrid system components to Nissan for 5 years starting from 2006. In addition, with the aim of promoting technical cooperation, both companies agreed to exchange information on hybrid systems that both Toyota and Nissan are currently developing independently, and to discuss the joint development of related components. In March 2004, Toyota and Ford Motor Company announced that they have entered into licensing agreements for patents related to hybrid systems and emissions purification. Pursuant to the agreements, Toyota will license, to Ford Motor Company, patents related to hybrid system control technology. Further, both companies agreed to a cross-licensing arrangement of emission purification technology patents for lean-burn engines.
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Table of ContentsToyota’s research and development expenditures were approximately ¥813 billion in fiscal 2006, ¥755 billion in fiscal 2005 and ¥682 billion in fiscal 2004. Worldwide, approximately 28,000 employees are involved in Toyota’s research and development activities. Toyota does not consider any one group of patents or licenses to be so important that their expiration or termination would materially affect Toyota’s business. For a further discussion of Toyota’s intellectual property, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Intellectual Property”. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 24, 2005. 5.C RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES
Toyota’s research and development activities focus on the environment, vehicle safety, information technology and product development.
Toyota’s environmental research and development activities focus on:
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Table of Contents
Toyota’s work in the area of vehicle safety is focused on the development of technologies designed to prevent accidents in the first instance, as well as the development of technologies that protect passengers and reduce the damage on impact in the event of an accident. Safety technologies in development include:
To expand the frontiers of safety technology in automobiles, Toyota completed in 1995 its first prototype Advanced Safety Vehicle, the ASV-1. In 2000, Toyota created a successor prototype, the ASV-2. The ASV-2 incorporates emerging technologies, such as an autonomous safety support system that uses CCD stereo cameras to recognize obstacles in traffic lanes and an infrastructure-harmonized safety support system to warn the driver of pedestrian crossings. In 2002, Toyota conducted road testing of the ASV-3, a prototype based on further improved infrastructure-harmonized system. With the February 2003 introduction of the Harrier models in Japan, Toyota became the first car manufacturer to implement a pre-collision safety system in its automobiles. This advanced system consists of pre-collision sensors that use millimeter wave radar to detect an imminent crash, seat belts that tighten their hold on passengers during the early stage of crash detection and a brake assist system that utilizes power-assisted braking to minimize the speed on impact. In February 2004, Toyota introduced the pre-collision safety system for the first time in the United States by equipping the LS430 with the above features and suspension control features that control nose dives when apply the brakes. Toyota plans to further continue its focus on developing practical applications for its advanced safety technologies.
Toyota’s product development program uses a series of methods which are generally intended to promote timely and appropriate responses to changing market demand. These methods include:
In September 2002, Toyota and Nissan Motor Co. entered into an agreement setting forth the basic terms of technical cooperation and other long-term projects involving hybrid systems between the parties. This agreement, which aims for a long-term business relationship of 10 years or longer, calls for Toyota to supply state-of-the-art hybrid system components to Nissan. In addition, with the aim of promoting technical cooperation, both companies agreed to exchange information on hybrid systems that both Toyota and Nissan are currently developing independently, and to discuss the joint development of related components. In March 2004, Toyota and Ford Motor Company announced that they have entered into licensing agreements for patents related to hybrid systems and emissions purification. Pursuant to the agreements, Toyota will license to Ford Motor Corporation patents related to hybrid system control technology. Further, both companies agreed to a cross-licensing arrangement of emission purification technology patents for lean-burn engines.
Toyota’s research and development expenditures were approximately ¥755 billion in fiscal 2005, ¥682 billion in fiscal 2004 and ¥668 billion in fiscal 2003. Worldwide, approximately 28,000 employees are involved in Toyota’s research and development activities.
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Table of ContentsToyota does not consider any one group of patents or licenses to be so important that their expiration or termination would materially affect Toyota’s business. For a further discussion of Toyota’s intellectual property, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Intellectual Property”.
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