PLANO, TX—Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has launched a virtual education program that enables e-learning students to consider pursuing a career in manufacturing. Toyota’s virtual education hub  includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum that includes virtual field trips.

Visitors can get an up-close look at the automaker’s assembly plants in Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas to learn how popular models like the Avalon, Corolla, Highlander and Tacoma are made. Other virtual tours highlight Toyota plants in Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia that mass-produce cylinder heads, engines, transmissions and other vehicle components.

Other options include Toyota’s R&D center in Ann Arbor, MI, and the Toyota Research Institute in Los Altos, CA.

“This virtual education hub and the plant tours provide a digital window into our world and the guiding philosophies behind our manufacturing processes and products, including continuous improvement and respect for people,” says Chris Reynolds, chief administrative officer for manufacturing and corporate resources at TMNA.

“Our goal with the hub is to inspire many, including those from groups which are underrepresented in STEM jobs or those who live in communities where job opportunities are needed, to get really excited about a career in STEM,” explains Reynolds.

 “At Toyota, we believe in the importance of high-quality and accessible education,” says Mike Goss, president of the Toyota USA Foundation. “As educators face new challenges during this unique time, we hope these virtual experiences and free resources will provide students, teachers, parents and life long-learners with engaging content that will help bring learning to life.”

To learn more, click www.tourtoyota.com/educationhub.