According to an annual ranking by the Intellectual Property Owners Association, Toyota was awarded more patents than any other automaker in 2021 in the United States. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the company a total of 2,753 patents with many in battery research to support vehicle electrification. The patents also relate to automated driving systems, hardware, software, AI, materials and other mobility-related inventions.
The intellectual property counsel and director of patent licensing for Toyota Motor North America, Frederick Mau, reportedly stated that the patent list "represents our efforts with respect to vehicle electrification, as evidenced by pioneering battery technology, as well as new IP to support Toyota's transition into a mobility company". Sandra Phillips-Rogers, general counsel and chief legal officer, reportedly commented that the "[t]he number of issued patents is a testament to Toyota's vast research and development ("R&D") efforts and the team members who bring these technologies to life".
According to Toyota, every hour, the company invests over $1 million USD in emerging technology globally and it has invested over $1 billion USD in R&D related to automated vehicles and robotics since 2017.
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