Toyota Drove Through PH’s Most Challenging Roads In Order To Build Better Cars

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) brings the 5 Continents Drive to the Philippines. The 5 Continents Drive team aims to drive various Toyota vehicles in local communities, diverse terrains, and challenging environments that customers experience on the road on a daily basis. The program aims to gather data and experiences to create cars that can fit through the numerous road obstacles and challenges around the globe.

Globally, the 5 Continents Drive started in 2014 in Australia and has since traveled across North and Latin America, Europe, and Africa. The team started their Asian drive this February 2019 in the Middle East and is slated to end in Japan in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. 

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) together with the global affiliates, recently concluded the Philippine leg of the global project 5 Continents Drive at Toyota Manila Bay. Officially launched in a send-off ceremony at TMP’s Santa Rosa, Laguna plant last November 19, the project brought 27 Toyota engineers and technical experts from TMC, TMP, Toyota Daihatsu Engineering and Manufacturing (TDEM), and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) to the roads of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Tarlac, La Union, Baguio, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales and back to Manila. The 5 Continents 9-vehicle convoy for the Philippine drive is composed of the locally-assembled Vios and Innova, together with the Hilux, Corolla Altis Hybrid, Rush, Fortuner, and the RAV4.

As part of the preparations for the driving experience activity, the participants from Toyota’s Japan, Thailand and Singapore offices were taught local road rules and regulations as well as briefed on local road traffic situations and safety reminders. They were also exposed to the unique ways Filipinos are customizing transport solutions like the use of the Toyota Hiace as public utility vehicles.

“Toyota Motor Philippines is honored to be a part of the historic 5 Continents Drive, with our very own Team Members guiding the group as local experts. They will help the 5 Continents Drive team understand not only the local road conditions, but also the country’s transportation situation, and culture,” says TMP President Mr. Satoru Suzuki during the send-off ceremony.  “This immersion project serves as an opportunity for the world to witness the Filipinos’ unique way of life and how cars are helping them go through their daily lives,” he added.