Embracing Diversity and Inclusion as a Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace

NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Embracing diversity in the workforce and ensuring inclusivity have grown to become significant advantages for top-performing companies across the country. Studies have shown such companies have a greater-than-average return for their shareholders, are more productive and innovative.

This year marks the first time Toyota has cracked the top half on the 2018 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, earning 25th place. For the past 11 years, the company has been included in the organization's list. In addition, Toyota was recognized for other Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, specifically for the company's achievements in supplier diversity, plus its commitment to hiring LGBT and veteran team members.

"Whether it's the diversity of our people, of our product offerings, or wide-ranging ideas we have for the future of mobility, Toyota is building diversity and inclusion into everything we do," said Chris Reynolds, executive vice president of corporate resources and chief diversity officer of Toyota Motor North American (TMNA). "We are proud to be among the DiversityInc's top 25 companies, underscoring our commitment to customers, dealers, team members, suppliers and society."

"Our aim is to help create a more inclusive society in which everyone can take on, challenge, and start their impossible," added Reynolds. "That is a commitment that continues within our company, helping us to innovate and adapt to an ever changing market."

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation's top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans. The survey ranked the practices of TMNA and Toyota Financial Services (TFS) together.

Special Recognition for Supplier, LGBT and Veterans Diversity

"We know when our organization is well-represented with people of different backgrounds, varying perspectives, and diversity of thought, we will always be better in responding to opportunities and solving challenges," said Mike Groff, president and CEO of TFS. The financial arm of the organization recently completed its fourth Diversity & Inclusion Bond Offering in the amount of $1.25 billion, setting a record for the largest corporate bond offering in which in which minority, women, and veteran-owned firms play a lead role. Additionally, TMNA spends over $3 billion directly with over 300 diverse suppliers and Toyota's suppliers spend nearly $1 billion with over 1500 diverse suppliers at the Tier 2 level.

"We also find that by partnering with influential organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign for LGBTQ equality and the Wounded Warrior Project for empowering veterans, we become better at supporting the needs of our employees and stronger allies to these communities," Groff said.

To qualify for the LGBT specialty list, companies must score 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index, among other criteria. Toyota has achieved this mark for the past 11 years.  

Companies on the Veterans list demonstrate diversity-management initiatives that help with recruiting and promoting veterans, measuring percentage of workforce, new hires and managers who are veterans, recruitment efforts aimed at veterans, and hiring practices including accommodations for spouses of veterans, among other areas.

The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity rankings assessed four key areas of diversity management: recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity.

About DiversityInc

The mission of DiversityInc is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, when many corporations were beginning to understand the business value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results will be featured on ‪DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. DiversityInc is a VA certified veteran-owned business and a USBLN certified business owned by a person with a disability. For more information, visit www.diversityinc.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @DiversityInc.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.  

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com. 

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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America