IT&ITS Business, e-Toyota&GAZOO
IT&ITS Business
At the time of the liberalization of the communications business in the 1980s, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) entered the communications business with an investment in Teleway Japan Corporation (TWJ), International Digital Communications Planning Inc. (IDC) and IDO Corporation. This growth field attracted considerable attention, however, and as a result of business mergers and consolidation, Toyota came to support KDDI Corporation. In 2001, Toyota established the IT & ITS Sales Division (now the Vehicle-Connected Product Business Division) to develop the information technology (IT) business with a focus on mobile phone sales.
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) use IT such as state-of-the-art electronics technologies and telecommunications technologies that link people, vehicles, and traffic environments and infrastructure to create new social systems that can achieve environmentally-friendly, safe, efficient, and convenient traffic and social environments. These initiatives are intended to build vehicle transport systems that will help Toyota maintain a leading edge in the automobile industry in the future. In recent years, research and development is being conducted through collaboration by industry, government, and academia under national projects in various countries. As a central leader in this field, Toyota has driven these efforts globally. Toyota is conducting research and development with the aim of establishing commercial applications of ITS, primarily through the ITS Planning Division (now the IT & ITS Planning Division), which was established in 1996.
Year
|
Month
|
Toyota Developments
|
Industry Developments
|
---|---|---|---|
1984
|
November
|
Participates in the establishment of Teleway Japan Corporation (TWJ)
|
|
1985
|
April
|
|
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation privatized
|
1986
|
November
|
Participates in the establishment of International Digital Communications Planning Inc. (IDC)
|
|
1987
|
March
|
Toyota makes core investment in establishment of IDO Corporation
|
|
1988
|
March
|
Toyota invests in NTT Corporation
|
|
March
|
Toyota makes core investment in establishment of Infonex Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
August
|
Japan Digital Road Map Association established (Toyota is one of the founders)
|
|
|
1989
|
February
|
Telecommunications Department established
|
|
June
|
Toyota participates in establishment of Himawari Network, Inc. (based in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)
|
|
|
August
|
Telecommunications Department changes name to Telecommunications Division
|
|
|
1990
|
February
|
Satellite relay trial conducted during Nationwide Dealers QC Conference
|
|
1991
|
January
|
Toyota participates in Prodigy FS Project, a multimedia and PC communications project (through December)
|
|
March
|
Toyota investigates Car User Information Center Project (through December 1992)
|
|
|
May
|
CDCRAFT test marketing conducted (through December 1992)
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|
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July
|
Regional Digital Phone corporations established. Toyota makes core investments in Tokyo Digital Phone (July), Kansai Digital Phone (November), and Tokai Digital Phone (March 1992)
|
|
|
1992
|
March
|
Toyota participates in establishment of Music Bird Co., Ltd.
|
|
December
|
Toyota participates in establishment of ZIP-FM Inc.
|
|
|
1993
|
May
|
Car Multimedia System Study Group formed with Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Mazda (meets through October)
|
|
October
|
Toyota invests in NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. regional subsidiaries (Kansai, Kyushu, Shikoku, Chuo, Chugoku, Tokai, Tohoku, Hokkaido, and Hokuriku)
|
|
|
1994
|
January
|
Vehicle, Road and Traffic Intelligence Society (VERTIS) established (name changed to ITS Japan in 2004)
|
|
March
|
Toyota participates in establishment of Digital Tu-ka Group Corporations regional subsidiaries (Kyushu (March), Chugoku (October), Tohoku (April 1995), Hokkaido (July 1995), Hokuriku (September 1995), Kansai (October 1995), and Shikoku (October 1995))
|
|
|
April
|
Toyota conducts enterprise resource planning (ERP) package assessment and testing in Singapore
|
|
|
September
|
Toyota makes core investment in establishment of Astel Tokyo Corporation (September) and Astel Chubu Corporation (October)
|
First ITS World Congress held in Paris
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|
|
Intelligent Multimode Transit System (IMTS) development concept launched
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|
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1995
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January
|
Product & Marketing Planning Department and Business Promotion Department established in Telecommunications Division
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|
April
|
Toyota begins serving as general agency for Tereway Japan Corporation
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|
|
July
|
Toyota participates in Japanese electronic toll collection (ETC) public-private sector R&D and trials
|
Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS) Center established
|
|
July
|
ITS Planning Group established in Management Planning Division (now the Corporate Planning Division)
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|
|
August
|
Toyota invests in establishment of Toyohashi Cable Network Inc.
|
|
|
October
|
Toyota begins serving as general agency for Kansai Digital Phone
|
2nd ITS World Congress held in Yokohama
|
|
October
|
Toyota establishes a website on the Internet
|
|
|
November
|
Automated driving public testing conducted in Tsukuba
|
|
|
1996
|
January
|
Teleway Service Co., Ltd. established
|
|
March
|
ITS Planning Group changes name to ITS Planning Division
|
|
|
April
|
Toyota investigates using communications satellites for broadcasting video data to dealers (through November)
|
VICS services launched
|
|
April
|
|
Universal Traffic Management Society of Japan (UMTS) established
|
|
May
|
Toyota begins selling VICS receivers
|
|
|
June
|
Information Business Medium-Term Plan Step I adopted
|
|
|
September
|
Toyota invests in Zenrin Co., Ltd.
|
3rd ITS World Congress held in Orlando
|
|
Septembe
|
Toyota invests in establishment of Chita Medias Network Inc.
|
First ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Japan
|
|
September
|
|
Advanced Cruise-Assist Highway System Research Association (AHSRA) established
|
|
October
|
Toyota invests in Mikawawan Network Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
October
|
Toyota participates in IC Card System General Research Institute
|
|
|
|
Toyota conducts Nagano Olympics traffic simulations
|
|
|
1997
|
March
|
Toyota participates in establishment of Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ)
|
|
July
|
Western base for U.S.-related telecommunications established in San Jose
|
|
|
August
|
|
2nd ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Australia
|
|
September
|
|
4th ITS World Congress held in Berlin
|
|
October
|
First edition of 'Toyota's ITS Initiatives' pamphlet released (updated and released annually since then)
|
|
|
November
|
MONET Service launched
|
|
|
1998
|
February
|
Toyota provides Nagano Olympics official cars and ITS onboard devices
|
|
February
|
Toyota participates in establishment of Japan Digital Contents Trust, Inc.
|
|
|
April
|
Videoconference system tests for Tokyo Corolla dealers conducted (through December)
|
|
|
May
|
Sales of Toyota Intelligent Mobility Enhancement for taxi (TIME-t) started
|
|
|
May
|
Toyota invests in establishment of Mobile Broadcasting Corporation
|
|
|
June
|
Sales of Toyota Intelligent Mobility Enhancement for delivery (TIME-d) commenced
|
|
|
June
|
Telecommunications Business & Research Division name changed to IT & Telecom Business Division
|
|
|
June
|
Eastern base for U.S.-related telecommunications opened in New York
|
|
|
July
|
Toyota participates in establishment of Oribe Network Co., Ltd. (based in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture)
|
IDO and the CELLULAR Group launch cdmaOne service
|
|
July
|
Toyota Mapmaster Incorporated established
|
|
|
July
|
Toyota begins serving as general agency for IDO
|
|
|
October
|
Dealer Information Business Conference held
|
5th ITS World Congress held in Seoul
|
|
December
|
|
Teleway Japan and Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd. merge and change name to KDD Corporation
|
|
1999
|
January
|
Business Planning & Administration Department, Telecommunications Business & Research Division name changed to Business Planning & Administration Department
|
|
April
|
Toyota begins serving as general agency for Cellular Corporation
|
|
|
May
|
|
Eight regional NTT DoCoMo subsidiaries established
|
|
May
|
|
Trials of Toyota Crayon EV commuter system begin in vicinity of head office in Toyota City
|
|
June
|
Toyota begins serving as general agency for MONET
|
|
|
July
|
Use of electric vehicle Crayon commenced within Toyota
|
Third ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Malaysia
|
|
August
|
IMTS trials started at Higashi-Fuji Technical Center
|
|
|
September
|
Japan Mayday Service Co., Ltd. (commonly known as HELPNET) established
|
ORSE established
|
|
September
|
First order for ETC installation on Tomei Expressway received from Japan Highway Public Corporation
|
|
|
October
|
|
Digital Tu-ka changes its name to J-Phone
|
|
November
|
|
6th ITS World Congress held in Toronto
|
|
December
|
Sales of Toyota Intelligent Mobility Enhancement for welfare (TIME-w) commenced
|
|
|
|
Traffic flow simulation business launched
|
|
|
2000
|
January
|
BR-Global Strategic IT Department established
|
|
April
|
|
ETC trials begin in Chiba
|
|
July
|
|
4th ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Beijing
|
|
July
|
|
IDO and Cellular launch 'au' integrated brand
|
|
September
|
HELPNET services launched
|
|
|
September
|
Information Business Medium-Term Plan Step II (2001?2003) adopted
|
|
|
September
|
@NAVI.COM services launched
|
|
|
Octobe
|
Sales of Toyota Intelligent Mobility Enhancement for bus (TIME-b) commenced
|
Daini Denden Inc. (DDI), KDD, and IDO merge to form DDI Corporation
|
|
November
|
|
7th ITS World Congress held in Torino
|
|
November
|
|
Seven cellular corporations merge and change name to au
|
|
December
|
Toyota participates in Kyoto Public Car System Project
|
|
|
2001
|
January
|
Transport Business Department established in Intelligent Transport Systems Planning Division
|
|
January
|
Sales Planning Department, IT & Telecom Business Division reorganized as IT & ITS Sales Division
|
|
|
January
|
Toyota InfoTechnology Center Co., Ltd. established
|
|
|
January
|
bitWallet, Inc. established
|
|
|
March
|
Sales of onboard ETC devices begin
|
General use of ETC begins in Chiba, Tokyo, and Okinawa
|
|
March
|
Construction of ETC roadside system completed at 81 tollbooths
|
|
|
March
|
Toyota participates in Internet ITS Project sponsored by Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) (through March 2002)
|
|
|
April
|
Toyota InfoTechnology Center, U.S.A., Inc. established in the U.S.
|
DDI changes name to KDDI Corporation
|
|
May
|
Toyota conducts M200 (MYLINE) campaign
|
DION ADSL service launched
|
|
June
|
|
Various telecommunications carriers launch MYLINE services
|
|
September
|
|
ITS Japan established
|
|
October
|
IMTS trials started in Awaji Farm Park
|
8th ITS World Congress held in Sydney
|
|
|
MONET@NAVI services launched
|
au acquired by KDDI
|
|
2002
|
January
|
BR-ITS Department established
|
|
April
|
MONET shifted to GAZOO Media Service
|
au launches CDMA2000 1x third-generation mobile phone service
|
|
June
|
TIME@NAVI sales begin
|
|
|
June
|
HELPNET mobile phone service launched
|
|
|
July
|
|
5th ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Seoul
|
|
October
|
G-BOOK services launched
|
9th ITS World Congress held in Chicago
|
|
October
|
ETC maintenance in Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe region transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
|
|
|
October
|
Internet ITS Consortium established
|
|
|
2003
|
January
|
IT & Telecom Business Division name changed to Network Business Division
|
|
January
|
BR-ITS World Congress Promotion Group established in Intelligent Transport Systems Planning Division
|
|
|
February
|
Installation of Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) parking garage system commenced
|
|
|
April
|
|
KDDI launches IP telephony services
|
|
June
|
|
Cumulative ETC installations exceed 1 million nationwide
|
|
October
|
|
6th ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Taiwan
|
|
November
|
|
10th ITS World Congress held in Madrid
|
|
November
|
|
KDDI launches CDMA1X WIN service
|
|
December
|
Communications and ITS Medium-Term Plan Step III adopted (2004?2006)
|
Expert Panel on Evaluation established
|
|
2004
|
January
|
BR-ITS World Congress Promotion Group expanded to BR-ITS World Congress Promotion Department
|
|
January
|
Intelligent Transport Systems Planning Division and Network Business Division reorganized into the IT & ITS Planning Division
|
|
|
January
|
DSRC Forum Japan established
|
|
|
February
|
TIME-b business terminated
|
KDDI launches Metal Plus service
|
|
April
|
Part of au basic incentives revised
|
|
|
June
|
|
Sales of mobile phones with auBluetooth communications function start
|
|
July
|
ETC installations exceed a cumulative total of one million units
|
|
|
August
|
TIME-t sales terminated
|
|
|
October
|
Toyota participates in Traffic Demand Management (TDM) pilot program in Toyota City
|
11th ITS World Congress held in Nagoya
|
|
October
|
|
Mobile Broadcasting Corporation begins broadcasts
|
|
November
|
Toyota announces direction for dealer classifications at Autumn Block Conferences
|
|
|
December
|
Toyota decides to withdraw from TIME@NAVI business
|
|
|
2005
|
January
|
Toyota decides to withdraw from ETC roadside business
|
|
January
|
Toyota revises communications service agency agreements
|
|
|
February
|
Toyota participates in METI's COSE Project (through March 2007)
|
|
|
March
|
Toyota installs IMTS at EXPO 2005 Aichi Japan
|
|
|
April
|
G-BOOK ALPHA services launched
|
Next-Generation Electronic Commerce Promotion Council of Japan (ECOM) established
|
|
April
|
Toyota implements grouping based on dealer's initiative plans
|
|
|
June
|
|
au mobile phone subscribers nationwide exceed 20 million
|
|
August
|
|
7th ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in New Delhi
|
|
September
|
Activity Case Study Model Dealer Conference held (Tetsuryu Conference launched)
|
|
|
October
|
|
Japan Highway Public Corporation split up and privatized
|
|
November
|
|
12th ITS World Congress held in San Francisco
|
|
December
|
Outstanding Dealer Brain Conference held
|
|
|
2006
|
January
|
IT & ITS Sales Division (Planning Department, Sales Promotion Department and Field Operation Department) reorganized
|
|
January
|
Priority trial dealer activities commenced
|
|
|
June
|
TIME-w business terminated
|
|
|
July
|
ETC Technology Group established in IT & ITS Planning Division
|
Eighth ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Hong Kong
|
|
August
|
TiMO, Toyota's first exclusive mobile phone, launched
|
First Evaluation Expert Investigation Committee meeting held
|
|
August
|
MNP kick-off meeting held
|
|
|
October
|
Toyota conducts MNP Special Contest
|
13th ITS World Congress held in London
|
|
October
|
|
Mobile number portability (MNP) starts
|
|
November
|
Sales of mobile phones exclusively for Lexus owners initiated
|
First Japan ITS Promotion Forum held
|
|
December
|
Public-road tests of vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems conducted in Aichi Prefecture under a Driving Safety Support Systems (DSSS) verification program
|
|
|
December
|
ETC installations exceed a cumulative total of four million units
|
|
|
2007
|
February
|
Toyota announces development of Map on Demand service
|
|
March
|
TIME-d business terminated and alternative version developed and introduced
|
|
|
April
|
Toyota proposes Yume no Machizukuri (Urban Development of Dreams) to Toyota City
|
|
|
April
|
Toyota conducts MNP Special Contest Part II
|
|
|
May
|
G-BOOK mX service launched
|
|
|
May
|
Demonstrations of next-generation and future vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems conducted
|
|
|
June
|
|
Council for Science and Technology Policy launches Giving Back to Society Acceleration Project
|
|
September
|
Withdrawal from TIME@NAVI completed
|
|
|
October
|
|
14th ITS World Congress held in Beijing
|
|
November
|
|
Status of development of vehicle-infrastructure cooperative Driving Safety Support System (DSSS) announced (Higashi-Fuji Technical Center)
|
|
2008
|
February
|
|
Navigation-brake assist developed
|
March
|
Verification testing of vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems on public roads conducted in Toyota City
|
Satellite Positioning Information Center liquidated
|
|
March
|
Toyota receives letter of appreciation from au for reaching 1.5 million au connections milestone
|
|
|
March
|
IT & ITS Group achieves profitability on full cost basis
|
|
|
March
|
ETC roadside business terminated
|
|
|
June
|
Service for TiMO, Toyota's first exclusive mobile phone, launched
|
|
|
June
|
Toyota conducts demonstration trials for mobile phone and G-BOOK navigation system collaborative function (through August)
|
|
|
July
|
|
Ninth ITS Asia-Pacific Forum held in Singapore
|
|
July
|
|
Community Network Center Inc. (CNCI), a local cable television business holding company, established
|
|
October
|
Verification testing of vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems on public roads commenced in Tokyo
|
|
|
|
|
15th ITS World Congress held in New York
|
|
2009
|
January
|
Multimedia Planning Department e-Toyota Division reorganized and BR Multimedia Planning Department established
|
Toyota City becomes an environmental model city
|
February
|
Public demonstrations of large-scale verification testing of vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems conducted in Odaiba, Tokyo
|
|
|
March
|
|
KDDI and other carriers launch platform for transferring mobile phone search positioning data to car navigation systems
|
|
April
|
Vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems Aichi Prefecture trials conducted in Toyota City
|
|
|
May
|
Toyota introduces a zone system at the head office area's parking lots
|
|
|
July
|
|
10th Asia-Pacific Regional ITS Forum held in Bangkok
|
|
September
|
|
Dedicated Short-range Radio Communications (DSRC) infrastructure installed on highways in Tokyo Metropolitan region and services launched
|
|
September
|
|
16th ITS World Congress held in Stockholm
|
|
October
|
BR Multimedia Planning Department (previously not belonging to any group) transferred to the IT & ITS Group
|
|
|
October
|
DSRC unit linked to navigation system made available on the Lexus LS as an option
|
|
|
2010
|
January
|
Connected Vehicle Product Planning Department established under the BR Multimedia Planning Department
|
|
January
|
BR 2020 & BR Next-Generation Mobility Planning Promotion Group established in Corporate Planning Division
|
|
|
February
|
|
ETC installations exceed cumulative total of three million units nationwide
|
|
May
|
|
Toyota forms alliance with U.S.-based Tesla Motors to develop electric vehicle
|
|
July
|
|
Rentals of Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles (PHVs) commenced in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture
|
|
August
|
Toyota City Low-Carbon Society Verification Promotion Council launched
|
|
|
September
|
Toyota InfoTechnology Center R&D workshop held at Suppliers Center
|
|
|
September
|
Smart grid trials started at Rokkasho Village in Aomori Prefecture
|
|
|
October
|
|
17th ITS World Congress held in Busan
|
|
October
|
|
ITS World Congress Tokyo 2013 Organizing Committee established
|
|
October
|
|
HELPNET membership exceeds 400,000
|