Tokyo — Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) took its first major step toward realizing the IMV Project announced in 2002 with the sales launch of the Hilux VIGO pickup truck in Thailand yesterday. The new pickup is the first of five IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) Project models, consisting of three pickup trucks of different body types, a minivan and an SUV. Larger in most key dimensions than the previous Hilux, the new model should reinforce Toyota's lead in pickup sales outside North America and challenge Isuzu's new D-Max for leadership in the key Thai market.

The IMV Project draws on the full resources and potential of Toyota's global production and supply bases for both vehicles and components. As free trade agreements become more common in various parts of the world, Toyota aims to reduce production costs and offer more attractive products by establishing a production and supply network made more efficient by its global scale.

Production will start almost at the same time at the four main production bases of Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina and South Africa, which will supply vehicles to countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Latin America and the Middle East. This includes the production of such major components as diesel engines in Thailand, gasoline engines in Indonesia and manual transmissions in India and their supply to the countries charged with vehicle production.

Following Thailand, production of IMV series vehicles will be progressively introduced in Indonesia, Argentina and South Africa. Worldwide IMV production including that in countries other than the four main production bases is expected to exceed 500,000 units in 2006.

Main IMV Production Bases

Country	Affiliate	Production vehicle	Start of production	Annual Production	Export destination
Thailand	TMT	Pickup truck (Hilux VIGO )	August 2004	280,000 units (Including 140,000 units for export)	Europe, Asia, Oceania, etc.
		Sport utility vehicle	2005		The Middle East
Indonesia	TMMIN	Minivan	September 2004	80,000 units (Including 10,000 units for export)	Asia, the Middle East
South Africa	TSAM	Pickup truck	2005	60,000 units (Including 30,000 units for export)	Europe, Africa, etc.
		Sport utility vehicle	2005
Argentina	TASA	Pickup truck	2005	60,000 units (Including 45,000 units for export)	Latin America
		Sport utility vehicle	2005

* Worldwide IMV production including in countries other than the above four is expected to exceed 500,000 units in 2006