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Toyota exec arrested in Japan for violation of drug laws

Julie Hamp (pictured above), Toyota Motor Corporation's recently promoted global chief communications officer and top female executive, has found herself behind bars after allegedly running afoul of Japan's strict prescription drug laws. Tokyo police claim that Oxycodone was sent to her from the US and discovered by Japanese customs. Hamp was arrested at her hotel on June 18. While it might look bad at first blush, the case currently appears to center on Hamp's misunderstanding of Japan's rules. According to Japanese police, she didn't think that there was anything wrong with importing the medication. NHK reported the package sent to her allegedly contained 57 pills, according to Automotive News. Even with a prescription, it's illegal to bring many drugs into Japan from the US. Some over-the-counter medications here, like allergy medications, are prohibited there, as well. Toyota is aware of Hamp's arrest, but has no other information to share. "We are confident, however, that once the investigation is complete, it will be revealed that there was no intention by Ms. Hamp to violate any law," the company said in a statement to Automotive News. Hamp became chief communications officer for all of Toyota in April. Before her promotion, she held that title at Toyota Motor North America. In the past, she has been included on Fortune's list of the most powerful women in the auto industry.

New Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ could move to a Toyota platform

There's more rumormill news about the future of the Toyota 86 and its twin, the Subaru BRZ. Australian website CarSales reports that the next versions of the coupe twins may switch from the existing and heavily modified Impreza platform to Toyota's TNGA platform. The reason? An unnamed Subaru insider tells the site the next-generation versions of the cars will retain their rear-wheel-drive configuration and thus won't move to the new Subaru Global Platform, upon which the automaker is basing all its new all-wheel-drive vehicles. That leaves two options: staying with the current Subaru platform, or moving to the Toyota New Global Architecture, which underpins vehicles including the Prius, C-HR, Camry and Highlander, and can better accommodate real-wheel-drive layouts. The TNGA would also help save weight and provide economies of scale. "It's a very flexible platform, but we make all-wheel-drive vehicles," the insider told CarSales about the new Subaru platform. "That's our forte, all-wheel drive." The 86 and BRZ launched for 2012, the former as the Scion FR-S, sharing the Impreza platform, Subaru's 205-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Both brands have confirmed they are working on new vehicles but have declined to offer details, and the source tells CarSales that development at Subaru is well under way. Toyota just revealed its heavily anticipated (and much-dissected) Supra in Detroit in January, based heavily on BMW engineering. The automaker is reportedly keen to build a family of sports cars, with a possible third model under consideration, and is developing the new 86 with plenty of involvement from the Toyota Gazoo Racing division.

Toyota to ramp up Tacoma production in Mexico by 41%

The Toyota Tacoma may be getting on in age, but that isn't stopping the Japanese manufacturer from ramping up production at the pickup's Baja California factory. The Mexican plant will soon be home to another 300 jobs as it increases total capacity by 41 percent. The increase is slated for April 2015.
The move is a curious one, considering the Tacoma's age and the fact that General Motors is preparing what, on the surface, appear to be two very competent challengers. The factory increase could be in preparation for the 2016 Taco (spy photos shown above), which is expected to represent a significant overhaul of the long-serving truck.
Toyota's decision to increase capacity could also be due to the factory building freeze implemented by President Akio Toyoda, according to Automotive News. Toyoda put a hold on new factories until 2016, asking executives to squeeze as much production as possible out of remaining factories before bringing any additional facilities online.