08

Bloemfontein Durban

Don’ t be a parts maker, design a body for efficient flow common understandings or morals at through the exhaust pipe.” Saito is now work.” The number of used increased be an automaker. chewing on the idea of being not a parts the moment the team entered Lesotho, maker, but an automaker. and they could see cars getting repaired The team entered the Kingdom of The next day’ s destination was Afriski, here and there. “Even so, the speed Lesotho, surrounded by the Republic of some 3,222 m above sea level. The team limits are fast and there are a lot of ups South Africa. Some of the team members slowly gained altitude. The city where they and downs and curves. Just a little were also from , , and stopped for a break was not like the mistake behind the wheel could cost Auto Body. “When I bring up developed cities in South Africa. Yusuke you your life. They need cars that do Toyota, they of course talk about how Onogi from the Vehicle Performance just what the driver intends.” Onogi found Toyota is so large, but I‘m surprised Development Division No. 2 of Toyota Auto a car model that he had been involved in by the opposite—how nimble they Body remarks, “The roads are chaotic.” making. Seeing a car being confidently are,” comments Shoichi Saito from the But he seems to take an interest in the driven in another country halfway around MS Stamping Production Engineering city. “If you indicate where you want to the world from Japan added earnest Division. He continues, “You learn things go, people let you through. When you intensity to his desire to make cars. from studying other people’ s work. If look at someone, they smile back. At When the team was eating dinner in you learn about exhaust pipes, then first glance it seems like there are no Afriski, their attention gravitated around you should be able to structurally rules, but in reality there are unstated Tomoko Mashiki from the Production Control Division. The atmosphere suddenly border of Lesotho. They traveled on an Masaya Okayama from the Measurement becomes more relaxed when she’s around. unpaved road in a dense fog, at times going and Instrumentation Engineering Division Mashiki works in a department that designs 4 kph or less, to arrive on the South African also received his share of advice. “When and plans factory production numbers, so side. “Yamada [Vehicle Engineering you’ re driving in a convoy, if the lead car she has a habit of thinking about things in Development Division] gave me quite a makes a bad decision about where to terms of numbers. But through driving in bit of driving advice,” says Akira Okabe stop and park, it can affect the Africa, she rediscovered that the many from Suzuki Motor Automobile Chassis departure. The decisions you make numbers she deals with literally form and Design Department. He continues, “The when driving are important, too. You become the cars made by the engineers. “I engine speed, and the right transmission always have to make decisions for may be an office worker, but I still want to gear for the road and the car speed, are yourself when you’ re driving. You can’ t support the engineers. I can’ t crush their not what I would have used. Each piece leave the decisions up to something thoughts and ideas. I want the work I do to of advice Yamada gave me made sense.” else.” No one gave Yoshio Furihata from move us in the same direction.” Yamada didn’ t treat Okabe, who had come the Vehicle Evaluation and Engineering from Suzuki, like a guest. Okabe Division of Hino Motors advice about Colleagues gripping the appreciated Yamada’ s approach. “I want to driving. He got a seal of approval from improve my driving skills more,” he Yamada, who said, “He’s got the basics same steering wheel. comments. Okabe learned about the fun of down.” Furihata commented, “We receive driving, and about just how much there is to driving instruction at Hino Motors too, The team went through Sani Pass on the learn, on the roads of Africa. but we don’t have the opportunity to have this many people of such caliber presentation on what they discovered on sure that will lead to making ever better concentrate on our driving. Meeting the the roads of Africa, and that marked the cars.” Hideyuki Tanaka (Advanced Drive Project members has been a great end of the Africa Drive Project. Team Technical Skills Institute), who has experience. I’ d like to be able to share leader Tomonori Umeda commented, “We participated in all legs of the 5 Continents our knowledge and data in the future.” may have safely reached our goal, but now Drive Project so far, supported the team The next morning, the team set out for is actually our starting point.” Local leader without standing out. When team members Durban in light rain. When the cars carrying Kevin again had a look of joy on his face. couldn’ t manage the bad roads or the the Drive Project members arrived at “People came from different places, but speeds, he would tell them to drive with TSAM, they were greeted with cheers of we shared time and long distances, and intention. Tanaka also helps train test joy. There was a ceremony and a came to have one mind, one heart. I’ m drivers and knows the danger of fast speeds and small mistakes. “Accidents happen when you try to perform beyond your skill level. You must not try to do more than you feasibly can.” Tanaka and the other vehicle leaders quietly supported the team members’ driving skills. The roads they drove in Africa will stay in the memories of the Drive Project team. They will take their thoughts and ideas back to their workplaces, using their experiences to make cars. The Africa Drive Project may have finished, but the 5 Continents Drive Project continues, with the Asian leg starting in 2019. The Drive Project team keeps on driving, in pursuit of making ever-better cars.

South Africa

Afriski 10.29 10.31 Bloemfontein 10.30 11.1 Durban Lesotho

Distance: 753km Duration: October 29- November 1, 2018 Days: 4 days Vehicles: Fortuner, Land Cruiser 200, Hilux Double Cab, Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab, Land Cruiser Prado