Toyota Motor Stock Price, News & Analysis

Toyota announces updates to the 2025 Grand Highlander lineup, introducing a new Hybrid Nightshade Edition and LE grade. The Hybrid Nightshade Edition features black exterior accents, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and premium JBL audio. The value-focused LE grade starts at $40,860 for gas models and $44,210 for hybrid versions. The SUV offers three powertrain options: a 2.4L turbo gas engine, 2.5L hybrid, and 362-hp Hybrid MAX system. Notable features include adult-sized third-row seating, 97.5 cu.ft. of storage space, and advanced tech features like Traffic Jam Assist. Models will begin arriving at dealerships in late December 2024.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY) completed its first international exhibition flight at Toyota's Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. The demonstration showcased the company's electric air taxi's low acoustic footprint and emissions-free capabilities. This milestone follows Toyota's recent commitment to invest an additional $500 million in Joby, bringing their total investment to $894 million. The investment includes plans for a manufacturing alliance to support initial commercialization. Joby's aircraft is designed to transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional transportation.

Toyota has announced an $80,000 donation to support music education programs at schools in Arizona and Georgia. The benefiting institutions include Chandler High School in Arizona, and Fulton County Schools, Benjamin Banneker High School, and Tri-Cities High School in Georgia. The initiative included a student event featuring Latin Grammy nominee Danny Ocean and Grammy-nominated composer Mali Wilson. This donation complements earlier Toyota USA Foundation grants for STEM education in these regions, part of their broader Driving Possibilities initiative aimed at providing equal access to educational opportunities and career pathways.

Battery X Metals announced significant progress in developing eco-friendly lithium-ion battery material recovery technology in partnership with a Global Top 20 University. Their proprietary froth flotation process showed promising results in recovering battery-grade materials from black mass, with initial tests achieving approximately 45% graphite separation. Multi-stage flotation protocols demonstrated more efficient material separation than single-stage methods. The company plans to pursue provisional patents and aims to license this technology to battery recyclers, adopting a low-capex, scalable business model.

Toyota launches a new marketing campaign titled 'A Secret Worth Sharing' for its all-electric bZ4X SUV. The campaign aims to raise awareness that Toyota produces an electric vehicle, featuring multiple creative spots developed through Toyota's Total Toyota (T2) marketing model.

The campaign includes two spots by Intertrend directed by Tarsem, 'Monster' and 'Tears', and two 30-second spots by Saatchi & Saatchi, 'Not Made Up' and 'Gas Station'. The integrated campaign extends across various platforms including influencer programs, CTV, digital content, paid social, and search, with partnerships including TripAdvisor, Netflix, and SiriusXM.

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has announced that its racing division, Toyota Racing, will be renamed Toyota Gazoo Racing North America before the 2025 motorsports season. This change aligns with Toyota's global motorsports efforts under the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) banner. TRD, U.S.A. will continue to provide technical and engineering support for Toyota's U.S. motorsports programs.

The transition aims to utilize motorsports to improve production vehicles by pushing machinery to its limits on the track. Toyota's NASCAR Cup Series entries will continue to use the Camry nameplate, while Xfinity Series entries will race in GR Supras. NHRA, Formula DRIFT, and GT4 teams already compete under the TGR banner.

The 2025 racing season will begin at Daytona International Speedway on January 24, 2025, with GR Supras in a GT4 race. The NASCAR season will start with the Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2, 2025, followed by the regular season in Daytona from February 12 to 16, 2025.

Toyota Motor North America and Revel have announced an agreement to provide Toyota and Lexus battery electric vehicle (BEV) customers with complimentary access to Revel's DC fast charging network in New York City for approximately three years through October 14, 2027. Revel operates the largest network of public fast charging stations in NYC, with four high-volume stations open 24/7 offering both NACS and CCS plug types.

Toyota Ventures, Toyota's early-stage venture capital firm, first invested in Revel in 2019. The collaboration aims to support Toyota's goals of increasing widespread adoption of electric vehicles through customer convenience. Revel currently operates 64 fast charging stalls across four stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, with plans to expand to 300 fast charging stalls in NYC within the next year. The company is also developing sites in the Bay Area and has signed its first lease in downtown Los Angeles.

Toyota Motor has announced a $500 million investment in Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis. This investment will be made in two equal tranches, with the first targeted to close later this year and the second in 2025. The funds will support the certification and commercial production of Joby's electric air taxi.

The investment terms include plans to establish a manufacturing alliance for the first phase of commercialization. This additional investment will bring Toyota's total investment in Joby to $894 million. Joby has been making progress towards commercialization, recently rolling out its third aircraft from its pilot production line and breaking ground on an expanded facility in California.

Toyota's involvement includes sharing knowledge of the Toyota Production System and supplying key powertrain and actuation components for Joby's aircraft production. The collaboration aims to realize the shared vision of air mobility for personal or daily travel.

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) reported U.S. September sales of 162,595 vehicles, down 20.3% on a volume basis compared to September 2023. Electrified vehicle sales accounted for 48.4% of total sales volume, totaling 78,683 units, up 22.4% on a volume basis. For the third quarter, TMNA sales totaled 542,872 vehicles, down 8.0% on a volume basis. Year-to-date U.S. sales reached 1,729,519 vehicles, up 6.2%. Notably, Lexus achieved its best-ever sales result in its 35-year history through the third quarter. Toyota remains the industry's number one retail brand through the nine-month period. The company offers 30 electrified Toyota and Lexus vehicle options at dealerships, the most among any automaker.