According to Toyota's filing, active aero elements can cover vital vehicle components like an engine oil pan. Automakers might have to alter the shape of these movable elements to route them around these areas, making the pieces less effective.
Toyota's idea is to make it easier for technicians to move the active aero elements out of the way when servicing a vehicle. The patent images show a Tacoma, but the description doesn't specify what type of model this feature would be for. It could be a sedan, truck, or SUV.
The patent describes several ways a technician could move the air dam out of the way. The technician could send a signal with an external device or do something in the cabin, such as hold down the windshield wiper handle for a certain amount of time.
Toyota Active Aero patent
By allowing technicians to move an active air dam out of the way, Toyota could design these elements to be more effective because they wouldn't have to worry about making maintenance more complicated.
If this active aerodynamic technology is intended for the Tacoma, as seen in the pictures, it will not be available for a while. Toyota just released the latest version of this mid-size truck in the 2024 model year, and automakers typically do not revise products immediately following their launch.
