Ranking Toyota at #31 of the top 57 companies, Fortune recognized Toyota for believing robots can do more than assemble Corollas and Camrys; it’s building and investing in robotics to help the disabled and elderly. It has created a walking-assist system to help stroke victims or others with disabilities learn to use their legs again. Toyota also recently invested in Israel’s Intuition Robotics, whose robots can remind the elderly to handle tasks like taking medication.
Based on the shared-value principle of “doing well by doing good,” the list recognizes leading global innovators that are making progress toward solving the world’s most pressing social or environmental problems as a key component of their competitive strategies.
“Toyota is proud to be recognized by Fortune, once again, as an agent of change,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America chief executive officer. “As one of the world’s largest automakers, Toyota is in the unique position to shape the future of mobility by providing products and services that expand the concept of mobility from simply moving people to improving ease of movement, regardless of the challenges faced in doing so.”
Fortune, in partnership with FSG, a nonprofit social-impact consulting firm, the Shared Value Initiative, a global platform for organizations seeking business solutions to social challenges, and Professor Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School, evaluate and rank the companies by three factors: measurable social impact, business results and degree of innovation. The final 50 Change the World honorees were then selected by the editors of Fortune based on the magazine’s own reporting and analysis.