TOYOTA TEXAS EXPERIENCE CENTER Virtual Tour

FROM AUTOMATED LOOM TO AUTOMOBILES

Sakichi Toyoda was born in 1867 in a small farming village in rural Japan. The son of a farmer and carpenter, neither trade was of much interest to young Sakichi. While assisting in his father's carpentry business, Sakichi became interested in improving the inefficient loom his mother and many other families used as a way of generating additional income. He began devoting all his time to the project.

In 1890, Sakichi filed a patent application for his improved manual loom design, which was awarded on May 14, 1891. During his lifetime, Sakichi was awarded a total of 40 patents in Japan and 62 overseas patents in 19 countries.

The Start of Something BIG

Toyota purchased 2,678 acres of the ranchland south of downtown San Antonio, forever linking the ancient family histories of Juan Ignacio de Casanova and Sakichi Toyoda. 678 acres of land were donated to the City of San Antonio to create greenspace along Leon Creek and the Medina River, which borders the property on two sides.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT

Toyota Texas uses many forms of technology to build quality vehicles for our customers. In fact, 98% of welds are applied robotically. We have Automated Guided Vehicles, or AGVs, travel throughout our plant delivering parts. They are programmed to follow a magnetic strip on the floor and play a musical tone to alert people to their movement.

LET’S MAKE A BETTER PLANET

In October 2015, Toyota announced the global Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. At Toyota Texas, that means supporting our environmental focus areas: REDUCTION OF CARBON, WATER CONSERVATION, REDUCING MATERIAL WASTE and SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY.

We also work hard to educate our employees and share our environmental know-how with others.

WHAT TOYOTA IS DOING TO CONSERVE WATER

Here at Toyota Texas, we use recycled water for all of our manufacturing processes. The only fresh water used at the plant is for human consumption. We receive over one million gallons of recycled water each day, clean it in our on-site processing plants, use it in process, clean it again and send it back to the local water utility.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO CONSERVE WATER, TOO

Turn off a faucet, and if you water your plants or lawn, make it early in the day.

HOW TOYOTA SUPPORTS BIODIVERSITY

In partnership with the San Antonio Zoo, Toyota Texas also has a thriving pollinator garden, attracting bees, butterflies and even bats, right outside of the Experience Center. Future partnerships with the San Antonio Zoo may also allow a part of the 2,000 acre campus to be a new home for horned lizards, also known as horny toads.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY, TOO

Make your yard pollinator-friendly. Plant native plants and trees, especially species that attract butterflies and bees.

STEM Education and Workforce Development

Toyota Texas focuses on STEM education and workforce development to create a strong community and a strong pool of future Toyota employees. Since 2009, we have partnered with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to teach middle school boys and girls from disadvantaged communities about STEM careers. We use interactive displays to show over 4,000 students the day-to-day workings of an advanced manufacturing plant.

Supporting Adult Education

At Toyota Texas, we know that education is important to more than just our children; that's why we support all levels of learning. Through partnerships with Palo Alto College and the Bexar County BiblioTechs, Toyota offers scholarships that allow qualifying adult learners to take the high school equivalency GED test at no charge.

MOBILITY FOR ALL

At Toyota, we believe when people are free to move anything is possible. Our teams of engineers and designers are not only focused on making our vehicles safer and more accessible, but, also, developing future mobility products that will ensure everyone has the freedom to move, engage, and explore.