- In
Singapore, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and official distributor Borneo
Motors (Singapore) partner celebrated local athletes, Toh Wei Soong and Joseph
Schooling to champion social causes
- Toyota
to support a total of 12 athletes from South East Asia, India and Pakistan in
their journey to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
- The
'Start Your Impossible' initiative is inspired by Toyota's worldwide
partnership with the International Olympic Committee and International
Paralympic Committee
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 13TH
SEPTEMBER 2018 - Toyota Motor Asia
Pacific Pte. Ltd. (TMAP), along with Borneo Motors (Singapore), today
announced the Asia roll out of Toyota's first ever global corporate initiative,
'Start
Your Impossible' (SYI), at a
launch event held in Singapore.

(Left to Right) Hao Tien, EVP of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific; Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament & President of Singapore National Olympic Council; Susumu Matsuda, President of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific; Joseph Schooling, Olympic Games Rio 2016 Medallist; George Ashford, CEO of Inchcape Asia; Jasmmine Wong, Managing Director of Borneo Motors Singapore; Kevin Wong, Chairman of Singapore National Paralympic Council & President of Singapore Disability Sports Council; Samuel Yong, Marketing Director of Borneo Motors Singapore.
More than eighty years ago,
Toyota decided to do what many thought was impossible at that time, to go from
building weaving looms to building cars. The 'Start Your Impossible' initiative
marks Toyota's commitment to transform into a mobility company, supporting the
creation of a more inclusive, sustainable and mobile society in which everyone
can challenge their impossible. SYI is also inspired by Toyota's Worldwide partnership with the
International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee and
the fighting spirit of Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are constantly
challenging their "impossible".
At the SYI launch event, Toyota also announced its regionwide partnership
with 12 Olympic and Paralympic aspirants
across Asia including athletes from Singapore,
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Vietnam and Pakistan.
In Singapore, Toyota is partnering celebrated athletes, Toh Wei Soong and
Joseph Schooling in support of their journey to Tokyo 2020.
In
spearheading the pursuit of "Mobility for All", Toyota believes that the
freedom of being mobile is at the heart of being able to participate in
society. "When we are free to move, anything is possible" has been the
underlying philosophy behind Toyota's decision to be the first ever mobility
partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Susumu Matsuda, President, Toyota
Motor Asia Pacific said, "We are committed to
making "Mobility for All" a reality as we seize the opportunity to transform
ourselves from an automotive company into a mobility company, entering new and
exciting territories. This would mean challenging our own "impossible" and
expanding our capability into technologies that can help people move around
town or across the room with a better experience.
For
the roll-out of the 'Start Your Impossible' initiative in Asia, we are excited to
begin our countdown to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 along
with our Team Toyota Hero athletes who are not only passionate about sports but
also desire to be agents of change to create a better world", continued Mr. Matsuda.
'Start
Your Impossible' in Singapore
In
Singapore, Toyota, along with its official distributor Borneo Motors (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., has partnered with celebrated
athletes, Toh Wei Soong and Joseph Schooling who will be supporting SYI by championing their hero
projects of 'Equality of Opportunity' and 'Road Safety' respectively.
Wei
Soong will be one of the motivational speakers that the Singapore Disability
Sports Council (SDSC) will be working with in their ongoing school outreach
programmes. The talks and programmes aim to inspire the young to pursue
their sporting dreams, especially those with impairments. He also wants to
empower those with impairments to find freedom of mobility in the water and
will be part of SDSC's 'Learn-to-Play' swimming programme.
Toyota
is also committed to support the 2018 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon,
proud title sponsor of the Ekiden relay -- a category which will see teams of 5
runners share the Marathon distance (42.195km). Toyota will also support the
Wheelchair athletes in their quest of the first Marathon Wheelchair title. This
engagement represents the company's commitment to create a more inclusive,
sustainable and mobile society in which everybody -- no matter their physical
conditions -- can tackle their own impossible and achieve their dreams. Beyond
sports, Toyota will also play a pivotal role in fostering greater inclusiveness
at the workplace for those with impairments to be given fair work opportunities
and be a valuable member of society.
Joseph's
social cause project will be focused on road safety awareness and education for
drivers and children. Together with Borneo Motors (Singapore), Joseph will be
encouraging safe and responsible driving by partnering with ComfortDelGro
Driving Centre to help drivers hone their driving skills and improve the
handling of road situations through its Drive Safe Courses. Joseph will also be
raising awareness of road safety among children by partnering with the
Singapore Road Safety Council and Traffic Police to inculcate better safety
awareness among this target group. Borneo Motors (Singapore) will also be
embarking on a company-wide initiative with Singapore Road Safety Council and
its current partners to revitalize the Road Safety Community Park.
Borneo
Motors (Singapore) has also entered into a new partnership with the Singapore
National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the Singapore National Paralympic Council
(SNPC) to be their "Official Mobility Partner" supporting them in their local
events including the 2019 Olympic Day and Singapore Sports Awards.
Present at the event, Ms. Jasmmine Wong, Managing Director, Borneo
Motors (Singapore) said, "On the Olympics and
Paralympics partnership front, we are delighted to support Singapore athletes,
Wei Soong and Joseph as they advance towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and
Paralympic Games. Through their sheer determination to overcome challenges and
realise their dreams, these hero athletes are the very embodiment of the SYI spirit. We hope that their dedicated
examples will motivate others to challenge their own 'impossible' whether at
work, in school or at play."
The Asia regional 'Start Your
Impossible' launch event in Singapore was
supported by the Singapore National Olympic Council and the Singapore National
Paralympic Council.
For more information about the Asia roll out
of SYI, refer to the attached media factsheet or log onto www.startyourimpossible.asia
Track SYI on social media using #StartYourImpossible
About Toyota Motor Asia Pacific
Toyota
Motor Asia Pacific is incorporated in Singapore and is the regional
headquarters of its sole shareholder, Toyota Motor Corporation, in respect of
distribution in the Asia Pacific region and regional treasury activities. The
principal activities of TMAP are marketing and sales of motor vehicles,
components parts, service parts and accessories as well as mobility services
and after sales customer service.
About Borneo Motors (Singapore)
Borneo
Motors (Singapore), part of the Inchcape Group, is the authorised distributor
of Toyota, Lexus & Hino, the world's leading automobile brands, and has
been delivering on its promise of quality, durability and reliability in
Singapore since 1967. With a strong belief that there is always a better way,
Borneo Motors' team of employees constantly aim to exceed customer expectations
and challenge conventional boundaries.