Children dream up future of cars at Toyota annual contest

One of the specially designed cars from Toyota Motor Corp's annual Dream Car Art Contest at Tokyo's bay side on 26 August

Reuters: Children from all over the world gathered at Toyota Motor Corp’s annual Dream Car Art Contest at Tokyo’s bay side on Wednesday (26 August) to share ideas and drawings on the future of cars.

Families were invited to watch their children receive prizes for some of their unique ideas, such as cars that allow people to share ideas without language barriers, cars that could plant seeds, or cars that could unite relatives living far away.

The contest encouraged children to stretch their imagination. One of the more unusual entries depicted tiny cars that could wash people’s mouths. But many of the cars were designed to solve social issues that were present in the children’s home countries.

As one of the largest global art contests for children, the contest received a record 875,000 artworks from 81 countries. Contest categories were separated into ages seven and under, ages eight to 11, and 12 to 15.

Minhal Adnan Sami, nine, from the United Arab Emirates, received this year’s new ‘Engineering Inspiration Award’ for her ‘Ecofix Car’, which she says would run on vegetable and fruit compost, and collect rainwater to water plants. The award goes to the entry that inspired Toyota’s automobile production staff the most. Her prize-winning drawing was made in to a 3D model using 3D printers.

“It’s more for poor people. They have to collect vegetable and fruit compost, the waste, and they will put it in the fuel tank, and then the car separates the seeds from the compost and dries them, and throws them on the ground,” Sami said. “And then, the water, the car preserves rain water so it can water the plants, and the new plants can grow.”

Canadian Hye In Park, 15, received the ‘President Akio Toyoda’ Award, selected by Toyota’s president, for her ‘Dream Society’ car, designed to unite families living far away.

“My dream is that I can live with all my family members together, because I am an immigrant from Korea. I live in Canada now and everyone else lives in like Korea or USA. And I want to one day live with all of them together in one society,” Park said.

Park received the award because her design “conveys a sense of caring for one’s family and having love for one’s community,” said Toyoda, according to a statement released by Toyota. Toyoda was not present at the event.

Toyota officials say they are hoping to fuel the progress of the future with contest.

“In order for the global community to keep progressing, it is important that Toyota nurtures the imagination of children, who represent our future,” 51-year-old Yoichi Miyazaki, managing officer for Toyota Japan said.

The children even inspired professional drivers.

“The minds of children are so vast and full of imagination. We may be driving cars as a means of transportation, but seeing these drawings reminded me, especially as a racing driver, that cars should continue to provide dreams for people,” said 43-year-old Japanese racing driver, Juichi Wakisaka, who was one of the contest panellists. Wakisaka currently races in the Super GT series and with the Lexus Team Kraft.

The contest entries were judged by Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda and outside panellists within the art or automotive science fields.

Gold awards for each age category were also given to children from Sri Lanka, Romania and Paraguay.