Article Date:  05/31/2001

DENSO, Toyota Team to Fund Tennessee Technology Center

ATHENS, Tenn. (May 31, 2001) ? Toyota has teamed with DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee and DENSO North America Foundation to donate $20,000 to the Tennessee Technology Center at Athens.

The gift, which was awarded to the non-profit organization in a ceremony at the Athens-based Tennessee Technology Center today, will be used to fund an educational foundation focused on the Industrial Maintenance Program, which trains students for jobs in industry.

The gift is a result of Toyota?s ?Community Connection? program, which is aimed at enhancing the cities where the automotive manufacturer does business. The program, which provided 10 gifts to community organizations in 1999-2000, will reach up to 15 supplier cities in 2001.

"Toyota has always contributed to the neighborhoods where its manufacturing plants and other facilities are located. Through Community Connection, we extend that support to our supplier communities," said Charlie Ing, corporate manager, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "We are excited to be teaming up with DENSO to help the Tennessee Technology Center and the Athens community."

DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, which has been a Toyota supplier since 1990, produces a wide array of advanced technology, components and systems. Its Athens location provides oxygen sensors, fuel injectors, air-flow meters and ignition coils. Among the Toyota vehicles carrying an Athens component are Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma and Tundra.

"Partnering with Toyota to help the Athens community is an honor," said Neal Ozeki, president of DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee. "We always seek good opportunities to advance the cause of education. Now, Tennessee Technology Center can help many students by creating its education foundation."

DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee and DENSO North America Foundation, which chose the Tennessee Technology Center to receive the gift, joined Toyota in contributing $10,000 each as a matching donation within the Community Connection program. DENSO North America Foundation, which began operations in January 2001, was the first corporate foundation established by a Japan-based automotive component supplier in North America. The Foundation is based in Southfield, Mich., and funded by DENSO International America, DENSO's North American Regional Headquarters.

Tony Takeuchi, founder/advisor of the DENSO North America Foundation and president and chief executive officer of DENSO International America, said, ?At the beginning of the year, we established the DENSO North America Foundation to extend our corporate citizenship by providing skills and resources that assist communities to prosper through the development of a skilled work force. Obviously, with this purpose in mind, we are especially pleased that our initial grant recipient is the Tennessee Technology Center."

The money will go to good use, said Athens Mayor Margaret Mahery, who is also director of the Tennessee Technology Center. "This gift will establish an educational foundation which will finance our Industrial Maintenance Program, and help us purchase materials that will ensure our students are properly trained and ready to enter the work force once they graduate from the Technology Center. I want to salute both DENSO and Toyota for their community spirit."

Mahery said the Industrial Maintenance Program is part of Tennessee Technology Center?s master plan. The funding will be used to purchase training modules for:

--Pneumatics

--Hydraulics

--Motor control

--Electronics

--Robotics

Toyota employs more than 31,000 people in North America, including nearly 20,000 at its manufacturing plants in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, and Ontario and British Columbia in Canada. With the launch of the Lexus RX 300 and the new Matrix at the award-winning Cambridge, Ontario facility, Toyota will produce 10 vehicles in North America: Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Lexus RX300, Matrix, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma and Tundra.

DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee has 2,800 employees between its Maryville and Athens facilities. The company is a subsidiary of DENSO International America, Southfield, Mich., the North American headquarters for DENSO Corporation, Kariya, Japan.

DENSO, a leading global supplier of advanced technology, systems and components, employs 85,000 people in 27 countries and regions. In North America, the company employs more than 13,000 associates at 21 companies.

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