A major Japanese automaker wants everyone to know what it's done for America and is running outdoor ads to get its message across. The ads are part of a promotional campaign for Toyota Motor Corp.
that touts the company's impact on the U.S. economy. The billboards are in 24 American markets where Toyota has factories or supplier operations, from Fremont, Calif., to Huntsville, Ala. The ads
employ numbers, such as 13 -- "Donuts in a baker's dozen; Toyota's U.S. investment, in billions," and 386,000-- "Kilometers to the moon; U.S. jobs created by Toyota." Toyota, in fact, is on its way
to passing General Motors Corp. as the world's largest automaker. The company has led the way for Asian automakers that have steadily increased U.S. sales, and now has about 13 percent of U.S. vehicle
sales. While GM and Ford Motor Co. are facing major restructuring with plant closings and job cuts, Toyota says it wants to expand car production in the United States. The ads are being generally
well received, especially in areas where Toyota employs local residents. "I think most people, particularly in this area, like Toyota a lot," said Kenneth Troske, who heads the University of
Kentucky's Center for Business and Economic Research. "They bring a lot of things to the community."
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