Mexican-born engineer partners with Toyota and SiriusXM to drive change

POSTED ON Feb 24, 2023

It’s Engineers Week (Feb. 19–25). This year’s theme is Creating the Future. During EWeek, and all year round, Hispanic Engineer helps showcase engineers’ impact in developing innovative solutions.

By 2025, Toyota has announced the company will begin manufacturing automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. Currently, Toyota offers 20 electrified options, with more in showrooms later this year, the company said.

To help attract the next generation to future jobs in the automotive industry, Toyota launched a virtual hub with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-based lessons and curriculum, virtual field trips, and more.

This week Toyota and SiriusXM announced a partnership with Katya Echazarreta, an electrical engineer and the first Mexican-born woman to travel into outer space, to launch “We Are ALL Hybrids.”

According to the press release, Echazarreta will be sharing her inspiring story through digital and social ads that celebrate the hybrid in all of us.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Toyota USA and SiriusXM on the We Are ALL Hybrids campaign!,” she wrote on her Instagram page.” Because like everyone else, I’m a Hybrid too! I’m more than an electrical engineer, I’m also a Citizen Astronaut. When you’re a hybrid, anything is possible!

Last June, Echazarreta became the first Mexican-born woman in space after being selected by Space for Humanity for the mission. “I think that a big part of developing successful engineers is enthusiastic instructors,” she wrote on her website. “Through my work in science and engineering communication, I hope to help bridge some of the existing gaps for students and young professionals.”

Inspired by Echazarreta, SiriusXM said it is joining Girls Who Code in its mission to close the gender gap in tech and support the next generation of engineers who identify as girls or nonbinary.

SiriusXM’s support, including a new gift funded by the company’s charitable arm, SiriusXM Cares, will enable Girls Who Code to help even more students develop the computer skills they need to pursue 21st-century opportunities.