JBL for Toyota Tacoma

The new generation of the Toyota Tacoma was teased weeks before the actual launch of the pickup in May 2023 with the presentation of various product highlights. One news story read: “Ultimate FLEX: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Coming with Portable Tunes”. And it continued: “Take your music from the dashboard with you to the campsite.” What was communicated so prominently here was the JBL sound system that Harman had developed especially for the Toyota Tacoma. The novelty value was so high because the system includes the JBL FLEX, an innovative speaker that not only provides sound inside the car, but can also be used as a mobile USB speaker outside the vehicle. The idea for this arose five years earlier during discussions at the Toyota Technical Centre in Saline, Michigan. At the time, Toyota was looking for an audio product with a “wow factor” for the Tacoma that would suit the adventurous target group. Starting from an existing dockable consumer speaker, JBL/Harman developed a compact speaker and docking system for integration into a much larger and more complex vehicle system, comprising a total of ten speakers including tweeters and subwoofers. The challenges during the development process ranged from thermal management to the requirements for the clip mechanism that secures the USB speaker in its docking station at the top of the dashboard and must withstand a force of 50 g. The device can easily be removed by simply pressing the eject button. The Bluetooth function is activated automatically. Back in the docking station, the JBL FLEX becomes part of the sound system again. This product definitely had the intended wow effect on the jurors: “The concept of flexible multiple use of such a vehicle speaker is really clever and simply fun. The design is also outstanding, because when recessed the JBL FLEX blends perfectly into the instrument panel of the dashboard and can be operated intuitively, creating a visual connection to the firmly integrated system elements. As an external stand-alone Bluetooth speaker, however, it impresses with its handy shape and excellent design; it is at the same time robust and uncomplicated.”