On July 9, 2010, Toyota Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. held the 2010 New Product Launch Conference for the Z series IC forklifts. Zhang Jie, the Secretary Chief of China Construction Machinery Association, China Industrial Truck Association (CITA) and superiors of Toyota Material Handling (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (TMHS) including Yamakita, the Chairman of the Board, Ueda, the General Manager and other persons in charge in China, together with the media in the field of logistics industry in China and Japan attended the conference, witnessing the great moment with significance to Toyota's development in China in the future. Chinaforklift.com (www.chinaforklift.com, English version: www.forkliftnet.com) was invited to the conference.

On the conference, Toyota launched Z series IC forklifts to Chinese market, which was the second new series introduced to the market since the 8 series forklifts launched in 2006. The design of such Z series forklifts combined the features of logistics industry in China, aiming at providing a specially manufactured IC forklift for Chinese users.

 “It has been seven years since Toyota forklift entered China. The capacity of Z series IC forklifts range from 2.0T to 3.0T, which are designed and developed on the basis of an overall investigation deeply into the Chinese market with findings that 60% of forklift market in China is occupied by 2.0-3.0T IC forklifts. Z series forklifts follow the main tendency and accord with the greatest demand on the market, carrying forward the high quality, safety, reliability of 8 series while introducing more ergonomic features,” Yamakita, the Chairman of the Board of Toyota Material Handling (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. stated on the conference, “it is just a beginning as China is one of the strategic goals of Toyota to conduct long-term development. In the future, Toyota will persist in improving the design capacity to provide more forklift models suitable for Chinese market so as to offer various products and service to the customers in China in a better manner.”

Zhang Jie, the Secretary Chief of China Construction Machinery Association, China Industrial Truck Association (CITA) expressed her congratulations to Toyota Material Handling (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and expressed her hope on the further development of Toyota in China. She said:"As the top forklift manufacture in the world, Toyota grew together with Chinese market since the company entered China in 2003. In these years, Toyota provided first class products with outstanding performance and service to the users in different fields of industries in China, which were well received and highly praised among the customers. I believe that relying on the new launched Z series forklifts, Toyota will perform excellently in the second half year on marketing and sales.”

On the launch conference, Yamakita, Ueda, Zhang Jie, and Halada, the Factory Director of Toyota Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. cut the ribbons for the unclosing of the new products, after which the Z series IC forklift was driven into the conference spot. The guests witnessed such an exciting moment together with Toyota.

Ueda interpreted the specifications and performance to the guests. “Under the guiding concept of leading ahead other competitors, Toyota designed and manufactured this special forklift model for Chinese market. Z series IC forklifts carry on the classic quality of Toyota forklifts lasting for more than 50 years with high quality and reliability. Toyota promote Z series forklifts on the Chinese market, holding the confidence that Z series will be well received by the customers in China after they actually use them,” said Ueda.

Z series IC forklifts use the engine and core parts originally from Japan, featured with advanced technique and duration, which can be applied in more areas on the vast logistics market in China. The new forklifts not only integrate the market demand and the users' preferences, but also show the prospects toward the developing tendency of material handling equipment field in the future.

The new forklifts compromise the key features—safety, reliability, high quality and free maintenance together during the design. The body of the forklifts with the gravity leading forward and a vibration reducer installed on the rear axle to improve the stability of the forklift at horizontal level, combined with stable cab design, maneuverable loading and unloading functions and the operator sensing system, totally reflect the safety concept Toyota always sticks to. The forklifts are equipped with standard and ergonomic devices such as a small wheel, a optional large aiding handler, spacious driving space for the operator, combination instrument cluster, clear visual conditions, low noise, low vibration and softly landing device for the fork, which are helpful to reduce the fatigue of the operator and improve the working environment so as to greatly enhance the comfort, convenience of the material handling tasks. Besides, the engine hood can be opened nearly at 90 degree, making the check and maintenance of the engine more easily and conveniently.

With the perfect product design and the complete after sales service system of Toyota, Z series IC forklifts will bring a new driving experience for the operators.

In order to get closer to the customers in China and provide the opportunities to more users to feel the advanced features of the new Z series forklifts, Toyota will hold a promotion activity from July 10 to August 10, 2010, during which period the customers could use the forklift for free.

After General Manager Ueda introduced the design concept and origin of Z series forklift—Quality, Sincerity, Wisdom, Value and China-orientation, the launch conference successfully closed. 

To show the gratefulness to the guests and all the media at home and abroad, Toyota arranged the banquet and performances after the conference.

About Toyota (Shanghai)

Toyota Forklift has launched its full operations in China, including assembly, sales and service. Toyota Material Handling (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (TMHS), which is 100% invested by Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), is the distributor of Toyota Forklift in China. We would like to support our customer in all ways.

Founded in 1926, Toyota Industries Corporation is the original company of Toyota Group, starting its business of automatic loom. It diversifies into such fields as loom, automobile, industrial equipment, compressor, engine, semiconductor, LCD, Machining Center, etc. Toyota air jet loom, compressor and forklift own the No. 1 market share around the world. Toyota Group consists of 13 companies, such as TICO, Toyota Motor, TTC, etc.