Jimmy Vasser Toyota

The tide has turned. And for us Toyota enthusiasts, it's in our favor. That's right, Toyota has officially displaced German auto leader BMW from its place at the top of the list of most valuable auto brands.

This momentous occasion for Toyota comes following Millward Brown's release of their reputable BrandZ survey. Millward Brown assesses companies within different industries based on customer perceptions collected via interviews with one-million-plus consumers worldwide. To effectively rank companies, Millward Brown then pairs their interview findings with careful analysis of the companies' financial and business data.

The BrandZ survey shows Toyota's…

Toyota and Microsoft are joining forces to create an in-car electronics system designed to aid the efficiency of the Japanese automaker's battery-powered vehicles. In accordance with the agreement, both market giants will invest one-billion yen (~$12 million) into a Toyota subsidiary that will provide data services for drivers.

Toyota and Microsoft indicate the forthcoming system will incorporate a suite of telematics services, including: data, navigation, in-car entertainment, and multimedia. The system may also be…