Toyota of the Desert

March 16, 2009 - New York, NY - Toyota today was named one of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity, finishing 40th overall in the magazine's ninth annual survey.

Toyota's 2009 inclusion marks the third time the company has been recognized by DiversityInc. A total of 401 companies vied for the honor this year. The annual DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® competition is an editorial process, entirely driven by metrics obtained in a detailed survey. Top 50 companies demonstrate consistent strength in four areas: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity.

Commenting on the DiversityInc survey, Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president at Toyota Motor North America, said, "At Toyota, we consider diversity and inclusion to be a top priority, and our commitment has not wavered during these economically challenging times. We strive for diversity in every aspect of our business, including employment, procurement, and dealer placement as well as our philanthropic activities. A more diverse Toyota makes us a stronger company now and in the future."

According to DiversityInc, key factors in Toyota's success were its 11 strong employee-resource groups, including religious and veterans groups; its strong mandatory diversity training and the metrics used to assess its success; and its efforts to help multicultural communities.

"Earning a spot on the list for the third time in four years, Toyota has worked hard to increase the inclusiveness of its work force. The company also has demonstrated consistently high philanthropic giving in multicultural communities," said Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 14 manufacturing plants. There are more than 1,800 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2.4 million vehicles in 2008. Toyota directly employs more than 41,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at nearly $21 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more than $30 billion.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About DiversityInc
Launched in 1997, DiversityInc is the leading business publication connecting diversity and the bottom line, with 1 million unique monthly visitors. DiversityInc.com includes the largest diversity job board in the nation. DiversityInc also produces events and conducts benchmarking, custom research and consulting.