Toyota Technical Centre (TTC) a division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, on Tuesday announced the establishment of the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRI-NA).

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The automaker plans to spend US$100m during the next four years on advanced research activity in North America and will use existing facility space at the TTC campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan.


Toyota has been pursuing sustainable mobility with four key priorities: advanced technologies, urban environment, energy, and partnerships with government and academia.


Based on these priorities, TRI-NA will accelerate advanced research on energy and environment, safety, and mobility infrastructure.


The institute will be directed by Noboru Kikuchi, the Roger L McCarthy professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, and also a director of Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories in Japan, who will report to Yasuhiko Ichihashi, president of Toyota Technical Centre-NA.

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TRI-NA initially will employ 35 researchers and administration staff, and plans to add 10 researchers in 2008 and an additional 20 by 2010.


“Creating the [institute] is the next step to strengthen Toyota’s advanced research function throughout North America and to discover cutting-edge technologies for sustainable mobility,” said Kikuchi.


“Toyota’s decision to establish the [institute] in Ann Arbor to direct advanced research activities for North America is another piece of good news for Michigan,” state governor Jennifer Granholm added.


“Toyota’s decision demonstrates that Michigan is a leading state for research and offers an attractive business climate for companies to grow.”


Toyota currently operates 13 manufacturing plants in the US.