Toyota Racing Development USA

Why is a satellite like a race car? Fortune's Allie Garfinkle has the answer in her recent piece on Apex’s partnership with Toyota Racing Development USA. Leveraging the same precision manufacturing practices used to craft world-class racing engines, TRD is helping Apex scale by mass-producing precision-machined parts for our Apex satellite platforms. “We have to think about manufacturing from the perspective of not just how we build something, but how we build it when we’re factoring in all the variables that matter—quality, speed of production, and affordability,” said Ian Cinnamon. “Too often we say, ‘Oh, we can build a bunch.’ Well, how long does it take? Or, ‘We can build them really cheap.’ Okay, but are they high-quality? We need to find the middle ground between those core elements. And if we can do that, the U.S. manufacturing base can really fall into its stride.” Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gTVrRfGW

At TRD, our Design Engineering team is always looking for new ways to apply advanced manufacturing beyond motorsports. Working with 24-time Paralympic medalist and multi-sport athlete Oksana Masters, the team used Stratasys 3D printing technology to develop custom hand molds tailored specifically to her in preparation for this year's Winter Games. Congratulations to Oksana on her continued success, and to our Design Engineering team for the precision, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that made this project possible. #TeamToyota

What does a NASCAR racetrack have in common with low Earth orbit? 🏎️ 🛰️ In Fortune Term Sheet, Allie Garfinkle highlights the answer: both are brutal, zero-margin environments where a single miscalculation means catastrophe. This shared challenge is why we connected the dots at Toyota Ventures, bringing together Toyota Racing Development USA (TRD) and our portfolio company Apex - Satellite Platforms to manufacture specific satellite components. It’s a highly pragmatic match. Traditional aerospace is too bespoke; mass automotive isn't built for cosmic tolerances. TRD is the perfect middle ground—engineered for extreme precision under intense stress, but built to scale. As our founder & general partner Jim Adler pointed out: “With 100,000 satellites that need to be built over the next five years, it’s not just what space can bring to automotive, but what the automotive industry can bring to the space industry... Space may be the next mode of mobility that Toyota moves into.” Check out the full article to see how lessons from the racetrack are shaping the next generation of space infrastructure: https://lnkd.in/gqHBQ7td

Back-to-back! 🏆 Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat led 78 laps en route to their second straight IMSA GTD Pro victory on Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Aaron Telitz and Benjamin Pedersen also earned a podium finish in Sunday’s race with a runner-up result in the GTD class to give Vasser Sullivan Lexus Racing a double podium on the weekend. The win marks the 20th for the Lexus RC F GT3 in IMSA competition and the 18th for Vasser Sullivan. It is the second win of the season for the No. 14 team and the third triumph for the Vasser Sullivan team after the No. 12 team was also victorious on the streets of Long Beach in April.  Congrats to Vasser Sullivan, Endava, and all our partners on another successful weekend! IMSA - International Motor Sports Association

The 2027 GR Cup Series calendar is locked in! 📅 “The GR Cup field is as competitive as it's ever been, and we want to build on that for 2027. We're excited to be back at the Grand Prix of Arlington, and for the first time ever, we're taking the championship to Watkins Glen International. Our teams and drivers raise the bar every year, and 2027 won't be any different," said Mike Norem, manager, customer racing, TRD U.S.A. 📰: https://lnkd.in/gb5zAV7J SRO Motorsports America

A triumphant return to Chicagoland Speedway! Chase Briscoe led the charge for Team Toyota, picking up his first win of the season. Briscoe finished just ahead of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin, marking the eighth time JGR has swept the top three, and the second time this year. Toyota also placed seven cars in the top 10 for the first time in its history, capping a historic return to the track. And on Saturday, Brandon Jones notched his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win of the year, and the eighth of his career. Congratulations to our drivers, teams, and partners on a stellar weekend!