Christopher P. Reynolds Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer | Toyota Battery Manufacturing
Christopher P. Reynolds Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer | Toyota Battery Manufacturing
Toyota has sustained its leadership in the U.S. automotive patent sector for the 11th straight year, securing more patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) than any other automotive company, according to the annual report by the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). In 2024, the company was awarded 2,428 patents, keeping it among the top 10 patent recipients across all industries.
The patents secured by Toyota cover a wide array of areas including cybersecurity, driver assistance technology, edge computing, electric and fuel cell vehicles, and more. Sandra Phillips, senior vice president of Enterprise Integrity and chief legal officer at Toyota Motor North America, highlighted the company's evolution into a mobility-focused enterprise. She remarked, “Toyota is evolving into a mobility company, and the breadth and depth of our patent acquisitions exemplify the wide range of invention that is taking place at our company.”
The strategic approach to patent filing was emphasized by Fred Mau, Intellectual Property (IP) counsel and director of Patent Licensing for Toyota IP Solutions. He noted, “We are securing a tremendous amount of new IP in growth areas of electrification, new materials, and autonomous driving.”
Among the patents issued to Toyota in 2024 are the LiDAR Reflective Fabric, Transport Energy Transfer using Real-time Cost Information, Systems and Methods for Managing Cooperative Maneuvering Among Connected Vehicles, and a Modular Fuel Cell System Architecture. These innovations reflect Toyota's continued commitment to advancements in vehicle safety, energy efficiency, and cooperative technologies.
Toyota's presence in North America spans nearly seven decades, during which it has engaged in sustainable, next-generation mobility initiatives through its Toyota and Lexus brands and operated over 1,800 dealerships. With nearly 64,000 employees in the region and 14 manufacturing plants, the company has produced close to 49 million vehicles. In spring 2025, Toyota's North Carolina plant will begin manufacturing automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
The company's Research and Development teams in North America, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, have been instrumental in securing these patents. They focus on creating next-generation vehicles and advanced mobility concepts, contributing to the company's global R&D expenditure, which averages $1 million per hour.
For further information, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
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