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Toyota Donates 45 Engines to Alabama Students in Automotive Programs

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Toyota Alabama Engine Donation

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has announced a donation of 45 V6 engines to educate automotive students
Pictured (left to right): Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Workforce Director Lyndsay Ferguson, Morgan County AL Schools Superintendent Bill Hopkins, Limestone County (AL) Career Technical Center Student Leslie Pitts, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama President Jim Bolte, Alabama Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Ed Castile, and Northeast Alabama Workforce Development Council (Region 2) Executive Director Ralph Bryson

The next generation of automotive designers, engineers, and business leaders needs to face continued challenges during education to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of the automotive industry. Not only will these students need to learn the core principles of car design and manufacturing, but they will need to stay on top of rapidly changing technologies, for improved efficiency, safety, communications, and more. But the burden is not just on the students and their educators to make that happen. Automakers also have a vested interest in the success of the industry down the road.

As such, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama recently announced a donation of 45 V6 engines that were manufactured at the company’s Huntsville plant, on Toyota Alabama’s latest production line. The donation will benefit various technical high schools in six counties throughout Alabama; Toyota calls it “education horsepower.”

The automaker made the announcement at its recent quarterly meeting for the Northeast Alabama Workforce Development Council, for Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan Counties. Students from all but Jackson County will be benefiting from this program.

“We believe it’s our responsibility to partner with educators to support career readiness programs that help develop our future workforce,” remarked Jim Bolte, Toyota Alabama president.  “The gathering of the Workforce Council seemed like the perfect occasion to announce the donation of these engines.  Toyota, just like members of this Council, is very interested and committed to developing career opportunities for students in the region.”

The donated engines are equipped with Toyota’s latest technology. The goal is for students to learn the “proper processes applied in manufacturing engines that will go into customer vehicles.”

“Toyota’s gift of these engines, again, demonstrates why they are among the best car companies in the world and one of Alabama’s finest corporate partners,” said Ed Castile, Deputy Secretary at Alabama Department of Commerce. “Congratulations to Mr. Jim Bolte and the entire Toyota Alabama team for their hard work and contributions to the Alabama and Tennessee Valley economy.  They recognize the importance of education and they also know what it takes to build a sustainable workforce.”