IT & ITS Business, e-Toyota & GAZOO
e-Toyota & GAZOO
The advances in information technology and the spread of telecommunications devices starting in the mid-1990s had profound effects not only on industry, but on the very fabric of society.
The e-TOYOTA business, which begins with "e" for "evolutionary", is as its name implies the vanguard business of Toyota's evolution and a banner for establishing next-generation business models. The e-TOYOTA business was launched in Japan and its activities are currently being expanded overseas as well.
With the goal of integrating vehicles and IT services, the e-TOYOTA business operates internal and external websites per Toyota business and brand, and also 'GAZOO.com', an automobile portal site that provides information on new and used cars and automotive services to meet diverse customer needs and offers a wide range of information to increase contacts with car enthusiasts.
In the telematics field, the e-TOYOTA business provides various services that support safe, secure, and convenient car-related activities for customers such as the G-BOOK information service for onboard terminals and G-Link for Lexus. Toyota is currently developing the telematics service in China and the United States.
Toyota is also introducing 'evolutionary Customer Relationship Building (e-CRB),' a cutting-edge customer relationship management (CRM) system designed to build long-term and trusting relationships with customers, in Thailand, Australia, China, and other countries and is developing the Sales Logistics Integrated Management (SLIM) service that provides integrated management from production to sales.
In this way, Toyota seeks to not simply plan solutions and tools, but to realize unique supply chain management that optimally links all stages of business from production and logistics to sales and after-sales service.
Year
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Month
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Description
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1994
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September
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Corolla Gifu launches New Car Logistics Improvement Project
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1995
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January
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BR Group for dealer operations established in No. 3 Vehicle Division Management Planning Department
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1996
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January
|
|
September
|
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1997
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October
|
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December
|
Gazoo launched
|
|
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The first Toyota Sales Logistics (TSL) Independent Study Announcement Committee is held at Toyota Corolla Kagawa
|
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1998
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April
|
Gazoo services expanded nationwide (Toyota Corolla Sapporo and Netz Toyota Tomakomai)
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April
|
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1999
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December
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GAZOO Shopping Mall opens (Toyota's entry into E-commerce)
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2000
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January
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GAZOO Business Division established in JR Central Towers
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April
|
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June
|
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August
|
GAZOO.com television commercials aired featuring the song 'Kocchi Oide' by the Japanese pop group 'Ketsumeishi'
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October
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E-TOWERs installed in convenience stores
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October
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GAZOO Media Service Corporation established
'GAZOO Lifestyle Pack' launched in collaboration with Toyota Coop |
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November
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GAZOO.com receives 10th Logistics Systems Awards METI Minister's Prize
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December
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Toyota Pavilion opens at Internet Fair 2001 Japan
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2001
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January
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Operation of official site, Toyota Internet Drive transferred to GAZOO Business Division
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September
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G-BOOK telematics service concept announced
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October
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Agreement on joint research of telematics signed with General Motors
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November
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WiLL CYPHA and G-BOOK displayed at Tokyo Motor Show
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December
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Toyota receives Prime Minister's Prize at Internet Fair 2001 Japan
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2002
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January
|
Name changed to e-TOYOTA Division
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August
|
G-BOOK press conference held at Meiji Kinenkan
|
|
October
|
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2003
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February
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Alliance formed with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. for G-BOOK, first collaboration with another company
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March
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e-CRB kick-off meeting held at FTMS (China)
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April
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GAZOO Media Service Corporation name changed to Digital Media Service Corporation
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April
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Toyota establishes joint venture music business with Dentsu Inc. and Sony Corporation and invests in Media Rag Corporation
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June
|
e-CRB kick-off meeting held at TMT (Thailand)
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July
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Toyota launches and starts deployment of G-BOOK (03G-Book) on all vehicle series (including vehicles produced by Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. series)
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September
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Alliance formed with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation for G-BOOK
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September
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Toyota places first in website ranking
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2004
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February
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Alliance formed with Mazda Motor Corporation for G-BOOK
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March
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e-CRB launched in Thailand
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March
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G-BOOK prototype displayed at Bangkok International Motor Show
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April
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DMAP established as subsidiary of Digital Media Service in Thailand
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July
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e-CRB kick-off meeting held in Australia
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September
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G-BOOK security and operator services made part of basic services
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2005
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April
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G-BOOK ALPHA launched at Tokyo ANA Hotel
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April
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BMTS established as subsidiary of Digital Media Service in Beijing, China
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April
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e-CRB launched in Australia
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April
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Digital Media Service made a wholly-owned subsidiary
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May
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e-CRB kick-off meeting held at TMCI (China)
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May
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BMTS established as subsidiary of Digital Media Service in China
|
|
June
|
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August
|
e-CRB launched at TMCI (China)
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2006
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June
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Introduction of e-CRB at all TMCI dealers in China completed
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June
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e-CRB services commenced at all GTMC dealers in China
|
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July
|
Remote Immobilizer for G-BOOK and G-Link developed
|
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November
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GAZOO.com redesigned (press conference held in Nagoya)
|
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December
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Gazoo mura Project launched
|
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2007
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February
|
GAZOO Racing website launched
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March
|
e-CRB operations commenced at Malaysian model dealer
|
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May
|
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August
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e-CRB launched at FTMS (China)
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October
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Introduction of G-BOOK in China announced at ITS World Congress held in Beijing
|
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2008
|
February
|
Digital Media Service name changed to Toyota Media Service Corporation
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February
|
Data communications module (DCM) installation as a standard feature on the new Crown begins
|
|
March
|
e-CRB operations commenced at South Korea model dealer
|
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April
|
Sales Logistics Integrated Management (SLIM) Project commenced in order to reduce defective inventory in all processes, from production and sales to collection
|
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May
|
'Alphard' and 'Vellfire' press conference and 'Metapolis,' a linked virtual new vehicle introduction event, held
|
|
October
|
Toyota Metapolis grand opening held
|
|
December
|
TMCI (China) establishes G-BOOK mass-production center
|
|
2009
|
January
|
GAZOO Racing activity policy announced at Tokyo Auto Salon
|
January
|
Introduction of telematics services in North America announced at the Consumer Electronics Show and the Detroit Auto Show
|
|
March
|
China TMCI G-BOOK services start (Lexus RX350)
|
|
May
|
Prius launch held at Toyota Metapolis for first time
|
|
June
|
GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. commences full-scale implementation of the SLIM system
|
|
August
|
iQ GRMN launched through GAZOO Racing (limited edition of 100 vehicles)
|
|
December
|
Gazoo mura rolled out to remaining areas of Japan
|
|
2010
|
February
|
GAZOO.com redesigned
|
March
|
GAZOO Racing site updated
|
|
August
|
GAZOO SPORTS site launched
|
|
2011
|
January
|
New North American Telematics service 'Entune' announced at the Consumer Electronics Show
|
March
|
Online road traffic map service for the regions hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake commenced
|
|
April
|
Microsoft and TMC forge a strategic partnership to build a platform for next-generation telematics service
|
|
May
|
Strategic alliance formed with Salesforce.com to build 'Toyota Friend' social network for Toyota customers and their cars
|
|
June
|
Sales of G-Station, a charger for EVs and PHVs which can connect via the Internet with the Toyota Smart Center, announced
|
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September
|
Entune service commenced in line with the launch of the new Camry in North America
|
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October
|
Launch of global cloud-platform-based Telematics services in emerging markets announced
|
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November
|
Development of the H2V Manager, a charging support tool for PHVs and EVs, announced
|
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November
|
PHV Drive Support (PDS) service for Prius PHVs, which connects the vehicle and owner via the Internet, announced
|