Toyota adding social media to new Prius

Schaumburg Prius drivers will soon have access to a new social media network connecting them to other Toyota owners, along with Toyota Corporate employees, Toyota service centers and, best of all, their own Toyota vehicle.  The new network will be welcomed next spring to Chicago as Toyota hybrid plug-in Prius vehicles make their way to the area as well.

The new social media network is called the “Toyota Friend” network and was designed by Toyota Motor Corp, with some help from the social media experts at Microsoft and Salesforce.com, in order to better connect the plethora of people driving, selling, maintaining and inventing Toyota vehicles.  As we have all been witness to, the power of social media lies in the power of connecting people and their ideas and Toyota sees the ability of “Toyota Friend” in this same, powerful light.

Personally, I think the most powerful feature that the new “Toyota Friend” network will offer to new Chicago Toyota hybrid plug-in Prius drivers will come in the form of a text message.  Owners will receive text messages when the vehicle needs to be plugged-in that will come complete with information about the amount of charge needed to reach a full charge level, as well as the time this full charge level will take.  With this kind of information, and reminders, Schaumburg Prius drivers should have no trouble quickly adapting to this new form of vehicle “fuel.”  After all, vehicles of today do not send their owner a text message to stop by the gas station, so adjusting to being reminded to walk out into the garage and plug-in your car before brushing your teeth for bed should be doable for most of us.

Additionally, the “Toyota Friend” network will alert drivers when their vehicle needs routine maintenance and proceed to connect them with area Toyota service centers.  Also, “Toyota Friend” network participants will be connected to Toyota headquarters and will be informed about needed recalls and other useful information for Toyota owners.

In all, the idea of a social media network for car owners is nothing short of genius.  Hats off to Toyota for leading the industry on this technology.  No doubt we will soon see other automobile companies following Toyota’s lead.  Of course, at that point, Toyota will already be on to the next big thing.