Posted: May 2, 2007

Multisport: Toyota Continues Sponsorships of Endurance Sports With Hybrid Synergy Drive Brand and 'Engines of Change' Program

TORRANCE, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota continues its sponsorship of triathlon events, USA Swimming and the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team in 2007 and launches an all-new "Engines of Change" program, offering online and onsite support for endurance athletes and fans. "Toyota's overall endurance sport sponsorships symbolize how a commitment to sport, community and making a difference in the environment together can change the future," said Megan Gillam, Engagement Marketing, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Our Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) brand and the Engines of Change program tie all our endurance sport sponsorships together, creating a community of athletes and fans who are committed to working toward excellence and making a difference in all aspects of their lives." The Engines of Change program was developed to connect with participating triathlon athletes before a race by offering a complementary online triathlon training program and the opportunity to become part of the Engines of Change team. The team will consist of 130 endurance athletes from around the country who will spread awareness and knowledge about Toyota HSD at various events nationwide. These athletes will be specially selected based on the positive changes they are making in their communities and in their own lives. Engines of Change is also designed to interact with the endurance community at each triathlon by educating and engaging participants, supporters and spectators in the program through a wide range of online and offline activities, including an interactive, on-site display of Toyota's industry-leading hybrid vehicle, Prius, for attendees to learn more about hybrid technology and win prizes. The Engines of Change Web site will serve as an online community for participants and spectators of all races by providing training information, sponsored-athlete features, blogs, race day details and e-cards that spectators can send to participants to provide a good luck wish. Fans also have the opportunity to get involved with Engines of Change by taking part in a national contest showcasing how they, themselves, are an Engine of Change. Winners chosen will have the opportunity to experience their favorite endurance event via partnerships with all Toyota sponsored triathlons, USA Swimming and the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team. In addition to the Engines of Change program, Toyota's HSD brand connects all of the company's endurance sport sponsorships. HSD is synonymous with health, well-being and the environment, all of which are pillars of endurance sports. Toyota's HSD vehicles, including the Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid, can be found on display at Toyota-sponsored events as well as being used by the athletes and teams Toyota supports. The shared values of the HSD brand and endurance sports make the connection seamless. Triathlon Events: Toyota is sponsoring 16 triathlons in 2007, including eight of the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series races and the inaugural Toyota US Open Triathlon Presented by Life Time Fitness. Inspired by those who strive to make a difference in their lives, Toyota developed the Engines of Change program to help support participating endurance athletes in achieving their related goals. Each Toyota-sponsored event features an interactive HSD vehicle display that educates attendees on four key benefits of HSD as relevant to the endurance athlete: Performance, Fuel, Emissions and Quiet. USA Swimming: Toyota is the official sponsor and vehicle of USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport of swimming. The company supports a number of events and programs each year, including the Toyota Grand Prix Series, a sequence of national meets that showcase the national team for international competition. Also, members of the national USA Swimming team who are actively working with a charity inside or outside the sport of swimming will be named "Engines of Change" by Toyota. Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team: Toyota returns in 2007 as the Toyota-United Pro Cycling team's title sponsor, marking year two of Toyota's first-ever sponsorship of a domestic pro road cycling team. Sharing the team's passion for moving forward and dedication to making a difference in the environment and overall well-being and health, Toyota has aligned its entire suite of HSD-powered vehicles with the team this year, including Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid. Toyota is also providing marketing, advertising and promotional support to the team. For more information about Toyota's endurance sport sponsorships and Engines of Change, visit www.toyota.com. About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota sold more than 2.5 million vehicles in 2006 in the United States.