A decade of urban development in the earthquake-stricken Tohoku region (Part 1)

Toyota's Commitment to Tohoku: A Decade of Reconstruction and Growth

Toyota Motor East Japan (TMEJ), a significant player in the automotive industry, has been at the forefront of rebuilding and growing the Tohoku region since 2011. This commitment was reaffirmed by Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, during his recent visit to TMEJ's Miyagi Ohira Plant and the Miyagi Plant of Primearth EV Energy (PEVE), a Toyota subsidiary.

The visit marked a decade since Akio Toyoda made an enormous, long-span decision to support the reconstruction of the devastated Tohoku region following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Since then, TMEJ has grown into a major base for the production of compact cars, including the Yaris, which won the European Car of the Year 2021 award.

The electrification rate of cars produced in Tohoku has exceeded 80 percent, a testament to the region's transformation towards electrification. This shift is particularly significant as PEVE, a hybrid battery manufacturer, is a significant base for survival in the challenges of this profound change. Toyota and one other company are the only companies in the world to produce batteries in-house.

During his visit, Akio Toyoda expressed gratitude for the employees' 10 years of hard work and acknowledged the increase in productivity in Tohoku. He also actively talked with employees, discussing power outages and electrical leaks during recovery efforts, and even their work and family situations.

The number of TMEJ employees in the Tohoku region has increased from 3,100 in 2010 to 4,500 in 2019. This growth is also reflected in the shipment value of TMEJ's products, which has increased from 30 billion yen in 2011 to 800 billion yen in 2019.

Akio Toyoda's commitment to Tohoku extends beyond business. He visits the disaster-stricken areas of Tohoku every year, a testament to his personal connection with the region. On his recent visit, he expressed his intention to continue visiting Tohoku every year to never forget the past and work together to create the future.

In a conversation with Mitsuru Kawai, Akio Toyoda emphasized the importance of Toyota and PEVE working together to take on the once-in-a-century profound transformation towards carbon neutrality. They discussed the benefits of in-house robot production, emphasizing the ability to fix equipment and improve competitiveness.

Recovery at the Miyagi Plant, despite a flood caused by an earthquake in February 2021, was completed in about one week. The plant's employees worked hard to sort by hand the batteries that got wet and those that did not to avoid causing any inconvenience to customers.

The Miyagi Plant of PEVE was also visited by Akio Toyoda. The visit highlighted Toyota's role in the reconstruction of the Tohoku region, a role that, unfortunately, there are no relevant search results detailing. However, the impact of Toyota's efforts in Tohoku is evident in the region's growth and resilience.

In conclusion, Akio Toyoda's visit to TMEJ and PEVE marks a significant milestone in Toyota's commitment to the Tohoku region. The company's efforts have not only contributed to the region's reconstruction but also to its growth and transformation towards a more sustainable future.