On July 13, Fukuoka Prefecture opened the Automobile Industry Electrification Support Center inside its Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Center in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City to serve as a center dedicated to assisting automotive suppliers seeking to enter the vehicle electrification market. The center, the first of its kind in Japan, will provide consultation services to companies looking to foray into electrification, and in addition to full-time advisors, current employees of Toyota Motor Kyushu will serve as coordinators who also provide consultations. The center will also engage in human resource development projects such as dispatching experts for business improvement projects, training sessions, seminars and more.