Toyota and Net Impact Team Up to Promote Social Equity Through Mobility Solutions

Net Impact is a leading nonprofit that is empowering a new generation to use their careers to drive transformational change in the workplace and the world. Toyota is again executing the challenge through the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), which was established in August 2014 to enable more people to go more places. 

"Mobility is a powerful equalizer. Together with Net Impact and students across the country, we are working to tackle issues of social equity through new mobility solutions. We're bringing our know-how to campuses across the country and, we always say, when good ideas are shared, great things happen," said Latondra Newton, Chief Social Innovation Officer, Toyota and Chief Program Officer, Toyota Mobility Foundation. "Year after year, we are amazed by the creativity of millennials. We can't wait to see what great ideas come out of the second year of the Challenge."

"Our goal is to inspire young people to frame social issues as opportunities to create shared business and social value. Working with the Toyota Mobility Foundation allows us to bring to life the close link between business innovation and creating social good," said Liz Maw, CEO of Net Impact. "Today's young people are passionate about improving their world, and the Challenge is a perfect opportunity for students to build practical design skills while tackling meaningful questions."

Throughout the Fall of 2016, local Net Impact chapters around the country will host the Challenge events at university campuses. During the events, multidisciplinary teams of students will work together to develop solutions through a design thinking process. Transportation, engineering and design experts from Toyota, as well as local relevant experts, will offer feedback and real-world perspective. 

Solutions will be judged based on the clarity of their goals, project design, feasibility, creativity, and social impact. The top team from each event, as well as three "wild card" teams, will enter the semi-finalist round and submit a pitch digitally to Toyota, TMF, and Net Impact judges. The top three teams will be invited to a "boot camp" to hone their pitch and develop other key business skills. The finalist teams will participate in a virtual pitch-off.

Judges will determine the winners at the end of the 2016-2017 academic school year. The winning team will be offered summer internships through Net Impact and Toyota. Additionally, the winning idea may be considered for funding from the Toyota Mobility Foundation to develop the mobility solution as a foundation project.

During the Challenge's inaugural year, nearly 670 students from 60 colleges and universities across the country participated in fifteen campus events, pitching 154 ideas. The winning team pitched a concept for an app that would help people who are blind or visually impaired navigate their surroundings with greater confidence. Members of the winning team received internship placements to support Toyota's Partner Robot team. The interns blogged about their internship experience; read their posts at this link. During their internship they supported efforts to advance the freedom of mobility for all as well as to delve into a deeper understanding of the mobility needs of the blind community and develop the design of their concept.

The winning team along with two finalist teams – will have the opportunity to attend the 2016 Net Impact Conference in Philadelphia, November 3-5, courtesy of Toyota. Toyota is the title sponsor of the Net Impact conference for the third time.

For the 2016 Challenge, Net Impact will host the Challenge at 15 campuses, including:

• University of California, Los Angeles
• Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
• University of Colorado, Boulder
• Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
• California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
• Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
• New York University, New York, NY
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• University of Texas, Austin
• Howard University, Washington, DC
• Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA
• Boston University, Boston, MA

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to advancing mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past 50 years, we've produced more than 30 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 44,000 people (more than 34,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.5 million in the U.S.) in 2015 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 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.

About Toyota Mobility Foundation
The Toyota Mobility Foundation was established in August 2014 to support the development of a more mobile society. The Foundation aims to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. It utilizes Toyota's expertise in technology, safety, and the environment, working in partnership with universities, governments, non-profit organizations, research institutions and other organizations to address mobility issues around the world. Programs include resolving urban transportation problems, expanding the utilization of personal mobility, and developing solutions for next generation mobility.

About Net Impact
Net Impact is a global community of students and professionals who aspire to be effective drivers of social and environmental change. Our programs—delivered from our headquarters in Oakland, CA, as well as globally through our 300+ chapters—connect our members to the skills, experiences and people that will allow them to have the greatest impact. With over 100,000 members, Net Impact takes on social challenges, protects the environment, invents new products and orients business toward the greater good. In short, we help our members turn their passions into a lifetime of world-changing action. Visit www.netimpact.org.

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SOURCE Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.