ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) -- Toyota Motor Corp. says it is establishing a North American research institute 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Detroit and plans to spend $100 million (euro63.24 million) during the next four years on advanced research activity.
The Japanese automaker said Tuesday the Toyota Research Institute of North America initially will employ 35 researchers and staff in Ann Arbor and plans to add 10 researchers this year and 20 more by 2010.
Toyota says the institute will be directed by Noboru Kikuchi, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Michigan and director of Toyota Central Research & Development Laboratories Inc. in Japan.
It will occupy existing space at the Toyota Technical Center's Ann Arbor campus.
