Toyota social network to let drivers poke their cars

Toyota Friend will be powered by Salesforce.com Chatter

Toyota has set up a social networking service for drivers to interact with their cars.

The automotive firm has formed a strategic alliance with Salesforce.com to build Toyota Friend, a private social network for Toyota customers and their cars.

Toyota Friend will be powered by Salesforce Chatter, a private social networking tool used by businesses, and will be a private social network that connects Toyota customers with their cars, their dealership, and with Toyota.

The service will provide a variety of product and service information as well as essential maintenance tips via "tweet-like" alerts.

Customers will even be able to extend their communication to family, friends, and others through public social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.

"Social networking services are transforming human interaction and modes of communication. The automobile needs to evolve in step with that transformation," said Toyota president Akio Toyoda.