Ever since its founding, Toyota has sought to contribute to a more prosperoussociety through the manufacture of automobiles, operating its business with a focus on vehicle production and sales.
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the company has compiled 75 Years of Toyota. Have a look at the company’s progress over the last three-quarter century.
* Detailed information can be found by selecting the topics listed in the side menu.
1867 | Birth of Sakichi Toyoda. |
1924 | Sakichi Toyoda invents Toyoda Model G Automatic Loom. |
1929 | Automatic-loom patent is sold to a British company. |
1930 | Kiichiro Toyoda begins research on small gasoline-powered engine. |
1933 | Automobile Department is established at Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. |
1935 | The Toyoda precepts are compiled. |
1936 | The AA Sedan is completed. |
1937 | Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. is established. |
1938 | Honsha Plant begins production. |
1950 | Company faces a financial crisis; Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. is established. |
1951 | Suggestion System begins. |
1955 | The Toyopet Crown, Toyopet Master and Crown Deluxe are launched. |
1957 | The first prototypes of the Crown are exported to the United States; Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. is established. |
1959 | Motomachi Plant begins production. |
1962 | Joint Declaration of Labor and Management is signed. |
1965 | Toyota wins the Deming Application Prize for quality control. |
1966 | The Corolla is launched; business partnership with Hino Motors Ltd. begins. |
1967 | Business partnership with Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. begins. |
1974 | Toyota Foundation is established. |
1975 | The prefabricated housing business begins. |
1982 | Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. are merged into Toyota Motor Corporation. |
1984 | Joint venture with General Motors (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.) begins production in the USA. |
1988 | Toyota Motor Manufacturing, USA, Inc. (present TMMK) begins production. |
1989 | The Lexus brand is launched in the USA. |
1992 | Toyota Motor Manufacturing (United Kingdom) Ltd. begins production. |
1997 | The Prius is launched as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. |
1999 | Cumulative domestic production reaches 100 million vehicles. |
2000 | Sichuan Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. begins production in China. |
2001 | Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. begins production in France. |
2002 | Toyota enters Formula One World Championship; Tianjin Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. begins production in China. |
2004 | The Toyota Partner Robot is publicly unveiled. |
2005 | The Lexus brand is introduced in Japan. |
2008 | Worldwide Prius sales top 1 million mark. |
2010 | Worldwide Prius sales top 2 million mark; Toyota and Tesla Motors agree on joint EV development. |
2011 | Worldwide Hybrid Vehicle sales top 3 Million mark; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. begins production in the USA. |