This year’s Autocar’s Great British Women in the Car Industry – Rising Stars initiative, in partnership with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), will be sponsored by Nissan, Toyota and CDK Global.

The event, to be held in London on 19 June, recognises the achievements of women working in a range of automotive fields including sales, marketing, manufacturing and vehicle development.

Toyota, which returns as a sponsor this year, is working to increase the representation of women in their business. Over the past 12 months, women have made up 54% of all external appointments to Toyota plc, the sales and marketing company for Toyota and Lexus products in the UK.

Since 2016, Toyota has been part of the Automotive 30% Club, pledging for women to make up 30% of key leadership positions in the business by 2023, and 25% of senior executive roles within the next five years.

Toyota (GB) plc president and managing director Paul Van der Burgh said: “We’re hugely proud to be supporters of Autocar’s Great British Women Awards. Highlighting some of the best female talent in the UK’s automotive industry is a vital part of this initiative, of course, but in doing so we are also sending a message to the brightest and best young women out there that this exciting and evolving industry is the place to be.

“Diversity matters not only because it is right, but also because it is business-critical to our future. I’m proud that more than half of all external appointments to Toyota (GB) plc in the past 12 months have been women, and that through our strong support of the Automotive 30% Club, Toyota has been at the forefront of opening doors for women taking leadership opportunities in this industry.”