Tag Archives: $100000

ToyotaUk

Toyota Texas Turns 20, Keeps on Truckin’

Automaker marks major milestone with $100,000 in community donations

SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 25, 2023) – Toyota Texas has been a leader in advanced manufacturing, innovation, and community engagement for the past two decades. To celebrate their 20th anniversary of assembling trucks and SUVs in Texas, community leaders gathered to honor the history and future of Toyota Texas. The San Antonio plant is the only location in the world where the Tundra and Sequoia are produced on the same assembly line.

“When we started building this facility 20 years ago, we made a promise to be the best company in town, and I believe we have delivered on that promise,” said Kevin Voelkel, the group vice president of North American truck manufacturing and president of Toyota Texas. “Our team has grown from 1,200 to over 3,800 employees, and we have continuously invested in this plant. But our commitment goes beyond creating jobs; we genuinely care about our neighbors and strive to make this community a better place.”

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Toyota Texas donated a total of $100,000 to two organizations:

  • The Institute for School & Community Partnerships at Texas A&M University San Antonio supports students through innovative practices, research, and equitable policies to help them succeed. The donation will be used to enhance STEM education in local school districts, providing programs like makerspace areas and STEM labs to expose students to opportunities in San Antonio.
  • The 100 Club of San Antonio supports law enforcement and firefighting in Bexar County, Texas. The funds will be used for training, equipment, survivor support, and the First Responder Fund.

Since its establishment in 2003, Toyota Texas has produced over 3 million trucks and SUVs and donated over $50 million to local non-profit organizations.

“Congratulations to Toyota for 20 years of success and innovation in Texas,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Through its production facility in San Antonio, Toyota has proudly carried the ‘Made in Texas’ brand by manufacturing top-quality trucks and SUVs. They have brought thousands of high-paying jobs and contributed to the economy of Texas. Toyota’s investments in Bexar County, from law enforcement to higher education, have created invaluable community partnerships and opportunities for Texans to thrive. I look forward to the continued partnership between Texas and Toyota as we build a brighter economic future for everyone in Texas.”

“Toyota Texas has exceeded expectations and consistently demonstrated their leadership and commitment to our community over the past 20 years. San Antonio is honored to have one of the best corporate partnerships in the country as the home of the Tundra and Sequoia, and we eagerly anticipate the next 20 years,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

“On behalf of Bexar County, I want to congratulate Toyota Texas for its tremendous growth over the past two decades. They have more than tripled their workforce and produced millions of top-of-the-line trucks and SUVs. Toyota Texas has become an invaluable community partner, improving the quality of life for children and families. We are grateful for their contributions,” said Judge Peter Sakai.

Established in 2003 and starting production in 2006, Toyota Texas represents a $4.2 billion investment in the Lone Star State. To witness the collaborative efforts of people and machines in exclusively building the Tundra and Sequoia at Toyota Texas, visitors can book a free plant tour at tourtoyota.com.

Motorsport

Beat-Up Box Truck Transformed Into Budget Stealth Camper For $700

Campers are often expensive, with some costing over $100,000. However, if you’re willing to keep things simple, it’s possible to spend much less. One person managed to build a motorhome for just $700 in only four days.

Of course, this builder had an advantage. They received the Chevrolet box truck for free, as it previously belonged to the owner’s father and was used as a work vehicle. The first step was to clean out the interior of the truck.

The builder also had access to their father’s tools, as well as scrap 2x4s and plywood. They repurposed a bookshelf and created a bed frame using basic wooden pieces held together with screws. The mattress is nothing more than a piece of foam.

The kitchen setup is equally simple. It consists of a piece of plywood with a hole cut into it to fit a plastic bin. The result may not look fancy, but it gets the job done.

The walls were painted using spray paint, while the floors were covered with patio paint. The lighting consists of strands of LEDs, and power is provided by a Craftsman jump box.

It’s important to note that this build comes with a number of compromises. There is no insulation, so extreme weather conditions could make the interior uncomfortable. Additionally, there is no bathroom, shower, or cooking setup.

However, this truck could still serve as a place to stay overnight, especially considering the low initial investment. Plus, there is the potential to further invest in the project and make improvements.

We have seen other box trucks converted into campers, some of which have impressive interiors. For example, someone transformed a white 2007 Isuzu NPR into a luxury build, with a total cost of $54,000. Another build utilized a Mitsubishi Fuso, resulting in an even more extensive camper with features like a kitchen and solar panels on the roof.

Motorsport

Nissan Employee Gives Life-Saving Kidney to Coworker

Finding an organ donor can be a challenging and lengthy process for the 100,000 Americans awaiting a kidney transplant. It is often difficult to find a close match among family members, let alone friends and neighbors. However, in a remarkable turn of events, a Nissan employee with kidney failure found his perfect match at work – his best friend.

In 2017, Josh Bredeson, a dealer technician at Landers McClarty Nissan in Huntsville, Alabama, initially believed he had the flu. However, a visit to urgent care revealed that he was actually suffering from kidney failure at the age of 39. Despite his diagnosis, Bredeson went on to win the US portion of the 2018 Nissan International Service Technical Excellence Contest (NISTEC), making him the highest-ranked dealer tech in the country. This achievement led to a promotion in 2021, and he began working at the dealer technical support center at the Nissan Smyrna Manufacturing Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.

By a stroke of luck, Bredeson’s best friend, Josh Shaffer, also worked as a data analyst at the Smyrna plant. The plant previously produced the 720 pickup and currently manufactures the popular Rogue and Pathfinder models. Shaffer took on this role shortly after Bredeson’s promotion.

Although Bredeson’s new desk job was less physically demanding than his previous position, his kidney disease continued to progress. By March 2022, his kidneys were functioning at only 20 percent, and he was placed on the transplant list. In the first month, eight close friends and family members underwent blood tests to determine if they were a match.

Among the potential donors was Shaffer, who, along with the others, underwent a series of tests at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. These tests included ultrasounds, X-rays, a CT scan, an EKG, and a four-hour blood draw. The results determined that Shaffer was the best candidate to donate a kidney, and he immediately agreed to do so.

On January 4, 2023, both Shaffer and Bredeson arrived at the Vanderbilt Medical Center for the life-saving surgery. Shaffer went first to have one of his kidneys removed and prepared for transplantation. Two hours later, Bredeson had his kidney transplant. Both operations were successful, and Shaffer was discharged two days later, followed by Bredeson a day after.

The transplant was a success, and six months later, Shaffer was doing well while Bredeson’s kidney function had improved to 70 percent with no signs of rejection or damage. The two individuals are using their experience to shed light on the estimated 37 million Americans with kidney disease, of whom 90 percent may be unaware of their condition.

“Hopefully, this is a story that will reach someone who may be suffering but doesn’t know why,” Bredeson said. “Maybe this will inspire someone to get checked or become a donor.”

BMW

DTM: Schubert Motorsport celebrates victory and podium finishes at the Norisring

Schubert Motorsport achieved great success at the Norisring during the third DTM race weekend of the season. Sheldon van der Linde secured his first victory of the year on Saturday, with René Rast finishing second, resulting in a Schubert one-two finish. On Sunday, both BMW M4 GT3 cars from the team made it to the podium, with Rast finishing second again and van der Linde taking third place. Marco Wittmann also participated and finished ninth and 13th in the Project 1 #11 BMW M4 GT3.

In the driver standings, van der Linde is currently in second place with 78 points, trailing behind Thomas Preining. Rast is in seventh place with 54 points, and Wittmann is in eleventh position with 35 points. In the team standings, Schubert Motorsport is one point behind Manthey EMA in second place. In the manufacturer standings, BMW is in second place with 157 points, trailing behind Porsche.

As the local hero, Marco Wittmann was celebrated by his home fans in the grandstand. He took the time to visit his supporters before each race and express his gratitude for their support.

During the DTM highlight event, BMW M presented the new BMW X1 M35i xDrive in the paddock. The car will be available in Germany from November. BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel and Marco Wittmann introduced the car to the visitors on Saturday, and Sheldon van der Linde inspected the new model on Sunday and signed autographs for the fans.

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, expressed his satisfaction with the weekend. He praised the performance of the BMW M4 GT3 on the track and thanked Schubert Motorsport for their excellent work. He acknowledged the challenging weekend for Marco Wittmann and Project 1 but expressed confidence in their ability to perform better in the future. He also complimented the organizer and the fans for a great event in Nürnberg.

Sheldon van der Linde was delighted with his podium finishes at the Norisring and expressed his intention to carry this momentum into the next DTM race weekends. René Rast also had a successful weekend, collecting valuable points for the championship. Marco Wittmann acknowledged the tough weekend from a sporting perspective but highlighted the incredible atmosphere and interactions with the fans as the highlight of the event.

ToyotaUk

Toyota Tennessee Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Advanced Manufacturing

Jackson plant marks two decades of manufacturing with $100,000 in community donations

Toyota Tennessee, one of the nine manufacturing plants of Toyota in the United States, completes 20 years of advanced manufacturing, collaboration, and community engagement. Wes Woods, the president of Toyota Tennessee, expressed his gratitude towards the team, the community and nonprofit leaders. The facility employs more than 400 people with an investment of $425 million. It produces 2.5 million engine blocks and transmission casing per year, which goes into every Toyota and Lexus vehicle produced in North America. Toyota Tennessee recognized its anniversary by awarding five Jackson area nonprofits with donations totaling $100,000 to support their ongoing work in the community. Partners who received the honor included Boys & Girls Club of Jackson, Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, RIFA, Madison County’s most significant food bank, Jackson-Madison County School System, and the STAR Center, workforce development programs for people with disabilities.

Tennessee is a national leader in the automotive industry, thanks to its business climate, central location, and a workforce development strategy tailored to meet the needs of the state’s growing economy, said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

To date, Toyota has invested more than $2 million in local nonprofits to improve the communities where it operates. Toyota is also the founding partner of the Jackson State Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program and is estimated to support over 17,000 jobs in Tennessee combining direct employee, direct dealer and Toyota-dedicated supplier employees.