Categoría: Aaron Sanchez

ATLANTA, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot^®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, announced today that Richard McPhail, chief financial officer and executive vice president, will present at the RBC Global Consumer & Retail Virtual Conference. The presentation will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET on May 27, 2020.

The presentation will be webcast live over the internet at http://ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations. A link will be displayed under «Events and Presentations.» The webcast will be archived and available at the same location after the conclusion of the live event.

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,293 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2019, The Home Depot had sales of $110.2 billion and earnings of $11.2 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

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SOURCE The Home Depot

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) laser focused on protecting employees, families and communities
• Best practices from FCA plants in China and Italy helping guide North American safety protocols
• More than 57 million square feet of production floor cleaned and disinfected
• Thorough daily cleaning schedules to be instituted to maintain enhanced levels of cleanliness and disinfection
• Temperature checks and daily health self-screening required for all employees and visitors
• Nearly 17,000 workstations analyzed for social distancing with more than 4,700 requiring redesign or modification
• Staggered start times, increased break and lunch times implemented to increase social distancing
• Installing thermal imaging cameras as added safety check
• Masks and safety glasses to be required personal protection equipment
• New safety protocols and procedures communicated in Return to Work package mailed to nearly 47,000 represented employees in the U.S. and Canada

As Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) prepares to resume its North American manufacturing operations, the Company has developed and is implementing a comprehensive program of enhanced safety measures to protect employees, their families and the surrounding communities from the spread and transmission of COVID-19 when the plants reopen.

«Above everything else, our top priority has always been to do what is right for our employees,» Mike Manley, FCA CEO, said. «We have worked closely with the unions to establish protocols that will ensure our employees feel safe at work and that every step possible has been taken to protect them.

«We have drawn on our collective global expertise and best practices to rethink our production processes to put in place comprehensive protocols to keep our workforce safe,» Manley said. «There is no question that coming to work will look and feel different. I have now visited several of our Detroit-area facilities, met with our teams and walked the floor. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of our colleagues who have done an incredible job putting in place safety protocols to protect our people. Thank you all.»

Since closing its plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico on March 18, FCA has been working to put in place best practices that have enabled the restart of operations at its facilities in China and Italy. Aligned with World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations, these robust protocols, along with the actions employees will be required to take to safeguard themselves and others, were communicated as part of a Return to Work package mailed to nearly 47,000 U.S. and Canadian represented employees. Mexico will share the same information through in-person training.

FCA is implementing layers of protection to combat the spread and transmission of COVID-19. This includes cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing, but most importantly, ensuring the wellness of everyone entering an FCA facility. With that in mind, the Company will require its employees, as well as all visitors, to complete a Daily Health Risk Assessment, which consists of:

• Taking their temperature less than two hours before reporting to work or visiting the site with either a Company-provided temperature strip or personal thermometer
• Completing a self-screening questionnaire and turning it in upon entry

As an added measure of safety, the Company is installing thermal imaging cameras to verify what employees and visitors have self-reported.

Consistent with the direction of governmental agencies, employees will be required to wear Company-provided masks and safety glasses at all times when in the facility. Employees will also be asked to wear gloves and safety glasses when applying or cleaning with disinfectant spray. Visitors and contractors to any FCA facility will be required to provide their own personal protection equipment for entry.

During the production pause, FCA completed a significant number of cleaning and social distancing activities to prepare its facilities for when operations resume. These include:

• Cleaning and Disinfecting:
• More than 57 million square feet of manufacturing floor space cleaned and disinfected
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting schedules developed for common and high traffic areas, including turnstiles, restrooms, cafeterias, locker rooms and conference rooms
• 135 hand-held foggers distributed for more efficient cleaning of these areas
• Provided cleaning supplies at all workstations so surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected
• Installed more than 2,000 hand sanitizer stations across all facilities
• Daily audits to be conducted to ensure new standards are followed
• Social Distancing:
• More than 17,000 workstations analyzed and evaluated for adherence to six-foot social distancing guidelines
• More than 4,700 job areas and workstations redesigned or protective barriers installed to allow for more social distancing
• Installed plexiglass partitions and created visual management guides for social distancing in break areas and cafeterias, as well as throughout all buildings
• Staggered start times and added time to breaks and lunch to minimize large gatherings
• Suspended meetings of more than eight employees at a time and transitioned to virtual meetings, wherever possible
• Put new approval protocols in place for facility visitors

Upon the restart of production, FCA is adopting a new level of daily cleaning and disinfecting, in accordance with WHO, CDC and OSHA recommendations, at all manufacturing locations in order to maintain the enhanced levels of cleanliness and sanitation. In addition to increasing the number of times per shift that high-traffic, high-use areas, as well as common touchpoints, are cleaned and disinfected, 10 minutes per shift will be dedicated to cleaning and disinfecting employee workstations.

Signage promoting the themes of health and safety have been posted throughout all facilities to remind employees and visitors of proper protocols related to cleaning, social distancing, required personal protection equipment and handwashing or sanitizing. Employees also will participate in small-group training sessions on the new policies and procedures as part of their first-day activities.

«We have taken a ‘belt and suspenders’ approach to mitigating the spread of this virus by implementing lots of layers of protection,» Scott Garberding, FCA’s Global Chief Manufacturing Officer, said. «You are a key part of successfully resuming operations. In this new environment, we all need to take responsibility for our own safety and that of the people around us. An effective start-up will require detailed understanding, teaching, coaching and patience from all of us.»

FCA will continue to monitor and audit conditions at all facilities, as well as the latest information on COVID-19 from federal and state agencies, to implement new safeguards and procedures as needed.

FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is a global automaker that designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles in a portfolio of exciting brands, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep®, Lancia, Ram and Maserati. It also sells parts and services under the Mopar name and operates in the components and production systems sectors under the Comau and Teksid brands. FCA employs nearly 200,000 people around the globe. For more details regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA), please visit www.fcagroup.com.  

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SOURCE FCA

ROSEMEAD, California, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In honor of National Hospital Week (May 10-16), American Chinese trailblazer Panda Express® has created an appreciation discount program for hospital staff and first responders to show its deep appreciation and gratitude to these everyday heroes during this global health crisis. Starting on May 11, hospital staff and first responders can enjoy 10 percent off on purchases made in-store at participating Panda Express and Panda Inn locations all year long, by showing their employment badge at checkout.* This appreciation discount is one of many initiatives that Panda has implemented as part of their ongoing commitment to protecting, inspiring and bettering the communities they serve.

Since March, the company’s philanthropic arm Panda Cares® and co-founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng have donated nearly $9 million to support various COVID-19 relief efforts, including partnering with Feeding America® as well as providing hot meals and personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers. More than 4 million N95, KN95 and surgical masks have been sourced and allocated to hospitals in 13 cities and counting, with a commitment to donate 50,000 meals to care for the healthcare community by June. Panda will continue to fundraise for its COVID-19 Community Care Fund with a new focus on the race to find a cure, supporting a team of renowned scientists that are developing a treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This initiative is led by Dr. David Ho, a famed virologist who pioneered the HIV/AIDS treatment in the 1990s.

«In a time when connection seems difficult to grasp, we hope to bring comfort and hope by giving back and letting our communities know that they are not alone,» said Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. «The appreciation discount program for hospital workers and first responders is a small token of our appreciation for all that they do for us. We will continue to support hospitals with PPE and food donations. Our commitment to caring for our frontline caregivers extends beyond Hospital Week—we will do everything in our ability, however big or small, to take care of our heroes.»

As a result of the restaurant brand’s philanthropic impact throughout the pandemic and the Cherngs’ long-time advocacy of the healthcare space, Panda Express has been recently chosen as the exclusive lunch and dinner partner of MED 4 OUR WORLD, an organization that focuses on providing medical care to underserved communities and has since pivoted during COVID-19 to providing free meals to hospitals nationwide. To kick off this partnership, Panda sponsored MED 4 OUR WORLD’s National Nurses Day (May 6) celebration with 450 hot meals to the staff at Palomar Health Foundation locations in San Diego, California.

Since March 2020, all Panda Cares donations are allocated to Panda’s COVID-19 Community Care Fund to donate PPE to hospitals in need, so doctors and nurses are best equipped to care for their patients. For more information about how Panda is navigating through COVID-19, please visit www.pandaexpress.com/forourpandafamily.

*This offer is only valid for in-store orders at participating Panda Express and Panda Inn locations in the U.S. and Canada. Not valid with orders made online, through the Panda Express mobile app, or through any third-party delivery service. This offer may not be combined with any other discount, code, or promotion. Valid until December 31, 2020. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. reserves the right to modify or discontinue this discount at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.

About Panda Express®
On a mission to inspire better lives, American Chinese trailblazer Panda Express is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller the Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart® selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,200 locations throughout the U.S. and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to more than ten international countries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares®, the organization’s philanthropic arm, has raised more than $196 million and countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2020, Panda established the Panda Cares Scholars Program to provide the necessary funding, academic support and leadership development to help high school and college students learn, lead and thrive towards a bright future. For more information about Panda, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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SOURCE Panda Express

PLANO, Texas, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Twenty years ago, with the Y2K computer glitch reduced to the punchline of the year, technology in another corner took a mammoth leap as a small, unassuming sedan very quietly rolled into U.S. Toyota dealerships. The 2001 Toyota Prius, the world’s first production hybrid car, had arrived, and it would profoundly change the trajectory of automotive propulsion evolution.

Over the next two decades, Toyota would go on to sell more than 6 million Prius vehicles worldwide and more than 3.6 million total hybrid models (including Lexus) in the U.S. Toyota Prius sales in the U.S. reached 1.9 million through 2019, and the model name became synonymous with hybrid technology. (The original Prius went into production for the Japanese market in 1997.)

All of that is worth commemorating.

And so, Toyota is marking the special anniversary of the groundbreaking Prius, the foundational car of its global hybrid leadership, by offering the Prius 2020 Edition for model year 2021. Toyota will offer 2,020 of these special models, based on the well-equipped XLE FWD grade. Available in a choice of Supersonic Red or the new Wind Chill Pearl, the 2020 Edition features striking black exterior trim and unique features, including a color-keyed rear spoiler.

The 2020 Edition model includes black inserts for the 17-inch alloy wheels, blackout headlight components and trim, B-pillars and mirror housings. Unique to the Prius 2020 Edition are a «2020» insignia key glove/fob and floor mats, as well as black shift knob and interior A-pillar trim and smoked HVAC vents.

The overall look is both sporty and elegant, with just a touch of mischief. But there’s nothing mischievous about a car rated at a manufacturer preliminary-estimated 54 city MPG / 50 highway MPG / 52 combined MPG and equipped as standard with one of the auto industry’s most advanced driver-assist safety systems.

New for 2021: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0

The Prius, which already had Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) standard, steps up to the more capable TSS 2.0 for 2021. This latest version of the critical safety system includes:

• Pre-Collision System with Low-Light Pedestrian Detection
• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Bicyclist Detection
• Lane Departure Alert
• Automatic High Beams
• Road Sign Assist

Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection is designed to offer automatic braking capability, under certain conditions, should the driver not react in time in an emergency situation. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Intelligent Parking Assist are also standard.

Also for 2021, all but the Prius Limited add Android Auto compatibility. (Apple CarPlay compatibility was already standard on 2020 Prius models.)

The Prius mission was right in its name; it is Latin for «first» or «original,» and can also mean «to go before.» Now, look at all the hybrids that have come since.

The Prius is one of 10 Toyota hybrid models, and one of 11 electrified vehicles with Mirai, a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), available for 2021. Others include the first-ever Corolla Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime.

The Shape of Progress

Its 2020 livery gives the 2021 Prius an added edge of distinction on the road. The unmistakable Prius silhouette is still the car’s signature design feature, made to cheat the wind with an ultra-low 0.24 coefficient of drag (Cd). An automatic grille shutter reduces aerodynamic drag by closing when airflow to the radiator is not needed.

Standard Bi-LED headlamps and LED rear combination lamps not only provide better light than halogens, but they also reduce energy consumption and give a longer service life. A full-width glass panel beneath the rear spoiler aids rearward visibility while also serving as a distinctive Prius design feature.

The foundation of Prius efficiency is the Toyota Hybrid System II. It operates much in the same fashion as the original hybrid system in the 2001 Prius, but is more compact, more powerful, and more fuel-efficient. In the Prius, the system combines the output of a high-efficiency 1.8-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with that of two motor-generators through an electronically controlled planetary-type continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The advanced Power Control Unit is the key to extracting the greatest efficiency from the powertrain. In most situations, the Prius launches on battery power alone and then seamlessly starts the gas engine and blends its output once underway, turning it off when its power is not needed.

Thanks to ultra-low internal friction and efficient combustion, the Prius gasoline engine exceeds 40 percent thermal efficiency. The air conditioning system, which uses a quiet electric compressor, works intelligently to maximize energy efficiency, with the Smart-flow (S-FLOW) mode directing airflow only to seated occupants to conserve energy.

More Room Than Some SUVs

The super-low-drag Prius shape is also highly practical. Thanks to its generous cabin room, the Prius is rated as a midsize car by the EPA. The front-wheel drive models, including the 2020 Edition, offer 50.7 cu. ft. of cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded down, which is more than in some small SUVs.

The Prius XLE grade on which the 2020 Edition model is based comes standard with 17-in. alloy wheels, Safety Connect; heated, SofTex®-trimmed 8-way power driver’s seat; SofTex-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; 3-door Smart Key system with Push Button Start; remote illuminated entry, rear wiper, and Qi wireless phone charging tray that accommodates larger phones.

The standard Toyota Audio system includes a 7-in. touch-screen display; AM/FM CD player; 6 speakers; Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility; auxiliary audio jack, one USB 2.0 port with iPod® connectivity and two 2.1-amp USB charge ports; advanced voice recognition; Bluetooth® hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming; Siri® Eyes Free, and an integrated backup camera display.

All Prius models share the familiar central screen interface, a signature feature in every Prius since the original. The 4.2-in. color Dual Multi-Information Display with customizable screens includes Energy Monitor and Hybrid System Indicator with Eco Score, Eco Savings Record, Drive Monitor, Eco Wallet, and Eco Diary features, plus displays for climate control, driver support systems, audio system content, and the navigation system.

First Generation: A Huge Leap in Fuel Efficiency

That original Prius combined output of a 70-hp gas engine and 44-hp electric drive motor. A second electric motor-generator served as the starter for the gas engine and also generated electricity for the drive motor and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack.

The first Prius achieved EPA estimated 42 city MPG / 41 highway MPG / 41 combined MPG. The higher figure for city driving reflected the hybrid powertrain making greatest use of the battery and electric motor in urban driving. The first Prius also used an auto stop/start system to shut off the gas engine at stoplights under certain circumstances. Such systems have since become commonplace, including for non-hybrids.

Second-Generation: A Huge Leap in Everything

Arriving as a 2004 model, the second-generation Prius arrived introduced a radical-looking and roomy liftback body, which established the basic design silhouette for the Prius going forward. The clever design yielded the room of a midsize sedan in a compact package, also with generous luggage/cargo room.

A new brake-by-wire system improved regeneration and brake feel. A new air conditioning system used an electric compressor, which allowed it to operate without the gas engine running. Even with its gain in power and larger body for the second-generation model, its combined fuel economy jumped by 12 percent to 46 MPG.

Third Generation: 50 MPG and a New Family

The Prius marked its 10th anniversary in the U.S. with an all-new third generation model, gaining more power and higher fuel efficiency. Its 50 combined MPG was a new milestone. This generation also brought new models, including the first Prius Plug-in Hybrid, a new compact Prius c for under $20,000 and a new, larger Prius v with crossover-like room and versatility. Prius models began offering Pre-Collision Braking and other advanced safety tech.

Fourth Generation: More Choices, Higher Efficiency

Based on the Toyota New Global Architecture-K platform (TNGA-K), the fourth-generation Prius is the most efficient and quietest in its history. The fourth-gen Prius introduced the top-of-line Prius Prime plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the Prius L ECO, and the Prius AWD-e model with all-wheel drive.

Two More Electrified Vehicles to be Revealed

Toyota will introduce two all-new hybrids during the Toyota 2020 New Product Showcase at the link below Monday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. The reveal will be hosted by Bob Carter, Toyota’s executive vice president of sales, and Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager, Toyota division.

Get your front row seat here Monday, May 18:  https://livestream.com/accounts/1607005/events/9122935

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Media Contacts:

Zachary Reed
469-292-3499
zachary.reed@toyota.com

Note to Editors: Photos and b-roll can be found on ToyotaNewsroom.com 

For customer inquiries, please call: 800-331-4331

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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America