Tokyo -- (JCN Newswire) --

Toyota Motor Corporation and nine other Toyota Group companies are aiming to register a new foundation next month that will aim to foster and support women working in the field of manufacturing in Japan.

The other companies involved are Toyota Industries Corporation, Aichi Steel Corporation, JTEKT Corporation, Toyota Auto Body Co. Ltd., Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc., Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. and Toyota Housing Corporation.

Progress is being made in Japan with recent public and private sector initiatives aimed at promoting more active participation by women in the workplace. The utilization of the perspectives and sensibilities of women in product development and design is also expected to have a number of positive benefits for the manufacturing industry such as contributing to the creation of new markets. The Toyota Group understand that greater participation by women in the field of technological development will be vital in the creation of ever-better cars and in achieving sustainable growth.

Women currently only account for approximately 10 percent of the students majoring in applied sciences at universities in Japan. The proportion is even lower among students studying electrical and mechanical engineering, a large proportion of whom are hired by companies in the transportation equipment/automotive industry. For automakers and other manufacturing companies to be able to substantially increase the number of women in technical positions, support needs to be provided to female university students studying science and engineering in order to increase their overall number.

The Toyota Female Engineer Development Foundation will use the examples of female tech workers to promote the merits of such work to high school students considering their future course of study at university, with the aim of helping to increase the number of female students who choose to study in the science and engineering fields. The foundation will also provide continued career development support in order to foster more science and engineering students and encourage more women to take active roles not only in the automotive industry but also in the wider manufacturing industry.

About Toyota

<BR /><BR />Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation (TSE: 7203; NYSE: TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937 to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of December 2012, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 52 overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions. Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 160 countries and regions. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.

Contact:

Toyota Motor Corporation
Public Affairs Division
Global Communications Department
Tel: +81-3-3817-9926