Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) launched the "Toyota Youth Connect" rogram, a three-week initiative aimed at filling the gap between academic learning and the needs of the industry. It would reach out to 30 districts in Karnataka and touch more than 7,700 young people and collaborate with more than 70 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to introduce students to career opportunities in the automobile industry. The initiative will focus on vocational skills, sector-specific knowledge, and apprenticeship opportunities, with a focus on developing a skilled workforce that meets the needs of both the current and future economies. TKM also emphasized the need to make students familiar with professional business environments and equip them with industry skills.

The Toyota Youth Connect programme is to facilitate development of the existing and new skill development landscape of Karnataka along with supplementing national initiatives like ‘Skill India’ and ‘Make in India’. The company’s commitment to social development and workforce empowerment is reinforced through the programme. G. Shankara, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration at TKM, stated that the programme reflects the company’s dedication to equipping India’s youth with essential skills for a successful career in the evolving technical landscape.

Toyota plans to continue supporting the skilling ecosystem in Karnataka, with the next phase focusing on identifying areas for improvement within ITIs, strengthening training programmes, and providing sustained corporate social responsibility support. TKM has also been involved in other educational related activities like the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) and the Toyota Technical Education Programme (T-TEP). These are special programmes focused on providing first-class education to students who come from the lower end of the economic totem pole.