[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 82 (Thursday, May 11, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    IN RECOGNITION OF TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA ON THE DATE OF ITS 
                     SUPPLIER CENTER GRAND OPENING

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2017

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Toyota Motor 
North America on the date of the Toyota Supplier Center and Prototype 
Development Facility grand opening. Toyota Motor North America has been 
a strong partner to southeast Michigan by utilizing our state's 
automotive expertise to help produce its next generation of 
automobiles.
  Originally established in July 1977, Toyota Motor North America's 
Research and Development has contributed significantly to the 
leadership of southeast Michigan as a leader in automotive engineering, 
driving important breakthroughs in automotive design and safety. Toyota 
employs approximately 1,440 individuals in its Ann Arbor and York 
Township facilities whose work has critical input to many of Toyota's 
most popular vehicles. These facilities collectively have contributed 
to the vehicle development of many of Toyota's most popular vehicles, 
including the 2014 Tundra and 2015 Camry designs, and its advanced 
research and prototype development efforts continue to serve as a 
critical source of innovation for the company at large.
  Toyota Motor North America's significant investment in expanding and 
upgrading its Ann Arbor and York Township engineering facilities 
underscores the importance of the groundbreaking research and 
development being done here. The expansion of the powertrain 
development facility in Ann Arbor Township, as well as further 
improvements to the York Township site, will allow a continuation of 
the successful partnership between Toyota and the State of Michigan. 
The talented and educated southeast Michigan workforce, combined with 
Toyota's new facilities and additional resources, will help ensure that 
Michigan's automotive industry remains a worldwide leader in the coming 
decades.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Toyota Motor 
North America and Mr. Toyoda during the grand opening of the Toyota 
Supplier Center and Prototype Development Facility expansion. This 
critical investment will leverage Michigan's talented workforce to 
conduct cutting edge automotive research and development.

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