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Toyota Connected Unveils Global Employee Handbook

In a significant initiative aimed at redefining its corporate culture, Toyota Connected Inc. (headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, and led by President Keiji Yamamoto) has launched the employee handbook titled "Toyota Connected Common Culture." Beginning with phased distributions, this handbook is crafted to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary in 2025, seeking to unify employees across the global Toyota Connected Group (TCG) by sharing the essence of what it means to embody the TCG spirit.

Purpose Behind the Handbook Creation

The primary objective of the handbook is to ensure that TCG’s global corporate philosophy and values resonate throughout the organization. The "Toyota Connected Common Culture" handbook consolidates essential information, detailing TCG's shared corporate principles, historical evolution, and showcases a common language for employees. This initiative is emblematic of the organization's commitment to establishing a robust foundation for decision-making and everyday operations, fostering a more cohesive organizational climate.

This initiative falls under the newly established Global People & Culture Office (GPCO), which was launched last year to enhance workplace environments. The GPCO recognizes that the synergy between leadership, employee experiences, and corporate values is critical in cultivating a strong corporate culture. While respecting the diversity inherent to various global locations, GPCO is focused on building and disseminating a universally applicable collaborative framework across TCG. The employee handbook is a tangible outcome of this strategy.

The creation of "Toyota Connected Common Culture" commenced in October 2025, transitioning through a series of phases from planning and content development to eventual production, culminating in a completion date set for March 2026. The handbook will be available in three languages: Japanese, English, and Chinese, facilitating its distribution to all global employees. In the design and conceptualization phases, the participation of international design teams was pivotal, ensuring that the final product is tailored for global usability. Moving forward, Toyota Connected aims to leverage the "Toyota Connected Common Culture" handbook as a cornerstone for nurturing a shared language and enhancing organizational unity, all while laying a foundation for sustainable growth.

Key Features of the Handbook

1. Clarification of Common Language: Establishes a clear understanding of shared values.
2. Accessible Design for All Employees: Crafted to be inviting and easily adopted by every member of the organization.
3. Unified Representation Across TCG: Promotes a sense of belonging and identity within the group.
4. Compact Size for Convenience: Designed to fit comfortably into a suit pocket, making it easily portable for daily use.

Insights from the Design Head

Moses & George from Toyota Connected Europe, who spearheaded the design and copywriting for the project, said, “Our focus was to accurately express the principles and values of Toyota Connected while ensuring that our message transcends diverse languages and cultures. It is an honor for this handbook to be shared globally. We hope that by consolidating our organizational story and values into one volume, we can foster common understanding and a sense of unity among all employees.”

Through this initiative, Toyota Connected underscores its commitment to nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture, which is essential for navigating future challenges and opportunities.