American Red Cross Recognizes Toyota USA for Lead Contribution to the California Wildfires

Toyota announced today that it will be donating $2 million to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for the California wildfires. This is one of the largest financial gifts the Red Cross has received for the California wildfires. Toyota is also donating Toyota lift trucks and palette jacks that will be used to unload and distribute relief supplies.

“Toyota is a valued partner of the American Red Cross. We are extremely grateful for this generous donation that will enable the Red Cross to provide life-saving support to the affected communities in southern California,” said Mark W. Everson, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “This donation will be critical in helping the Red Cross provide essential relief in the immediate aftermath of the fires.”

“It’s our hope that aid may quickly reach those who fell victim to the California wildfires,” said Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales, USA. “We owe a debt of gratitude to courageous firefighters and disaster relief organizations like the American Red Cross.”

Toyota’s contribution will assist Red Cross relief efforts throughout Southern California. As wildfires continue to burn across Southern California, the Red Cross is providing residents, firefighters and first responders with shelter, food, water, clean up and comfort kits, and medical and mental health services. The Red Cross has nearly 3,000 workers on site in Southern California, including volunteers from all 50 states. To date, the Red Cross has provided the following services:

* Opened 24 shelters providing displaced residents with a safe place to stay
* Mobilized tens of thousands of cots, blankets, comfort kits, and clean-up supplies
* Volunteers are staffing 75 Emergency Response Vehicles, providing hot meals and snacks to residents, firefighters and first responders
* Red Cross mental health counselors are available to help residents and emergency workers in the affected areas manage the stress and fear that accompanies all disasters

Toyota has been a Red Cross partner in disaster relief for a number of years. Historically, Toyota has actively supported the Red Cross in its efforts to assist those impacted by disasters nationwide through financial and product contributions. During Hurricane Katrina, Toyota donated $2.6 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and will operate 15 manufacturing plants in North America by 2010. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2.8 million vehicles in 2006. Toyota directly employs over 42,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $19 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota’s annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more than $28.5 billion. According to a 2005 Center for Automotive Research study, Toyota, along with its dealers and suppliers, has generated nearly 400,000 U.S. jobs, including jobs created through spending by direct, dealer and suppliers employees. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the California wildfires, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.