IRVINE, Calif. (March 10, 2008) – Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.’s (TMHU) 8-Series lift truck has recently been awarded with the silver medal in Plant Engineering magazine’s annual “Product of the Year” ranking.

For more than 20 years, Plant Engineering’s “Product of the Year” has been renowned as the industry’s most distinguished award for innovation in manufacturing products. According to Plant Engineering, it is bestowed only to those manufacturers who have created the best new ideas that make plant management better, faster and smarter.

A special panel of engineers selected Toyota from among 150 finalists for “Product of the Year,” and final award recipients were then determined by an online poll of Plant Engineering’s readers. Toyota’s 8-Series received the 2007 Product of the Year silver honors in the Material Handling Systems category. This achievement will be formally acknowledged before an audience of the nation’s leading plant managers at a gala banquet, which is slated to kick off the 2008 Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit in Chicago on March 31, 2008.

“We are pleased and honored Plant Engineering and the magazine’s readers have recognized the 8-Series as a winner in the prestigious ‘Product of the Year’ awards,” said Shankar Basu, president and CEO of TMHU. “In the 8-Series, we have delivered an environmentally-friendly lift truck that not only reduces operating costs and enhances operator safety, but also minimizes smog-forming emissions. We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from our customers and the material handling industry.”

About the 8-Series – the World’s Cleanest Internal Combustion Lift Truck

Toyota’s environmentally-friendly 8-Series lift trucks, which include 3,000-6,500 lb, internal combustion cushion and pneumatic tire models, are recognized as the world’s cleanest internal combustion lift trucks available. Toyota 8-Series LPG, gasoline and CNG lift trucks produce 70 percent less smog-forming emissions than current federal standards, and meets California’s more stringent 2010 emissions standard.1

The 8-Series which first rolled off the line in January 2007, also offers significant advancements in durability, ergonomics and overall cost of operation.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) has been the number-one selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains popular due to its quality, reliability and durability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota’s world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) in Columbus, Ind. Most of the Toyota lift trucks, including the 8-Series, sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement. Toyota remains the first and only manufacturer in the world to offer a factory installed Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel system that is UL-listed, and EPA-CARB certified.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 188 dealership locations throughout the United States, offer comprehensive customer service support, including one-stop shopping for both new and Certified Used lift trucks, parts, service and financing.