Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater to Lead Independent North American Quality Advisory Panel for Toyota

March 2, 2010 – New York, NY – Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMA) announced today that former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater will lead an independent North American Quality Advisory Panel to advise the company’s North American affiliates on quality and safety issues.

The panel will work closely with Toyota’s North American leadership team, and will have direct access to Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda.

“I am pleased that Secretary Slater has accepted our invitation to lead the distinguished group of safety and quality experts who will help Toyota to improve its quality controls in North America,” said Yoshi Inaba, President and Chief Operating Officer of TMA. “We are committed to more transparency regarding our safety and quality controls, and the independent advisors will have our full cooperation and access to any information they believe they need.”

This independent group of experts will also evaluate the electronic throttle control system (ECTS-i) installed in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Its findings will be made public.