Honored to be recognized by @MIT @techreview as one of the 50 Smartest Companies! https://t.co/B7S0q5Iovm pic.twitter.com/bN2VIoJhD3
— Toyota USA (@Toyota) June 22, 2016
Toyota is going places--and El Paso drivers are taking notice.
This year the MIT Technology Review named Toyota at number 17 of the 50 Smartest Companies of 2016. It was one of only two automakers honored. (The other brand to be named--as news buffs may be able to guess--was Tesla.)
So what did Toyota do to earn this honor, other than apparently having an amazing recruitment team?
The tech review journal points to Toyota's new dedication to developing artificial intelligence and robotics. The focus of the research, driven by a $1 billion investment, is to create a fully-autonomous vehicle, but many other projects are being undertaken including in-home robots meant to assist people with limited mobility. This AI software and robotics equipment may soon be used for driver-assist technology like lane-keep assist, cruise control for stop-and-go traffic, intelligent braking and steering, 360-degree vision, and more.
Jim Lentz, chief executive officer of Toyota North America, had this to say about the rather surprising award:
"We're very grateful to be recognized by MIT, one of the finest educational institutions in the world... Toyota's scientists are committed to innovation and leading the way to a future of mobility that is cleaner, safer, and provides freedom of mobility for all. In the spirit of kaizen, Toyota is committed to improving every day in the service of our customers and society."
Our team is proud to be able to work with some of the best minds in the automotive business.
Learn more about the advanced technology currently available in new Toyota models, including voice activation and automatic emergency braking, online or at Dick Poe Toyota in El Paso.
