AKB48 Team8 Original Navigation System Released Members' Voices Support Your Drive (Video Available)

Toyota Motor Corporation launched an original car navigation system on January 28th, its first collaboration with the idol group AKB48 Team8 for automotive products, and held an announcement event at Megaweb in Koto Ward, Tokyo. Since 2014, the company has supported Team8's activities—composed of one member selected from each of Japan's 47 prefectures as "idols who come to meet you"—and has been running a project to communicate the fun and appeal of cars to a wide range of generations.

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This navigation system features guidance in local dialects by all 47 team members, with approximately 1,740 phrases recorded. Drivers can enjoy their favorite member's voice for basic guidance, including startup announcements, prefectural border alerts, stop signs, and turn instructions.

During the opening, six members including Nanami Sato and Kasumi Maiki appeared and performed the song "Seifuku no Hane" (Feathers of the Uniform), drawing loud cheers from the approximately 200 invited fans. The six are also members of a car club formed within the team.

Akihiro Suzuki from the Domestic Parts & Accessories Division and Shinya Hirozawa from the C&A Business Division stated, "This collaboration brings together idols you go to see and the car navigation system you use to get there," and "During voice recording, we refrained from giving detailed instructions to preserve each member's unique personality."

Nanase Yoshikawa, who had already experienced driving in a car equipped with the navigation system, watched footage from that time and commented, "The members guided us in their dialects, making it feel like we were driving together." On stage, a live demonstration of the actual device was performed. When the members introduced the recorded phrases and said, "Let's go on a drive together!", the fans reacted with a roar. Furthermore, when they performed an original version of their song "To 47 Wonderful Towns" created specifically for the day, the venue reached its peak excitement.

This car navigation system is available in limited quantities at Toyota dealerships nationwide.

Navigation System Official Site: http://toyota-team8-navi.jp/

Team8 Official Website: http://toyota-team8.jp/