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Toyota

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Toyota is a massive Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer.

Toyota
Toyota

It is currently the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. The company is headquartered in Toyota City, located in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan.

Headquarter of Toyota Motor Corporation 4
Headquarter of Toyota Motor Corporation 4

Toyota produces approximately 10 million vehicles every single year. This high volume of production makes it a central part of global transportation. The company is also one of the largest conglomerates on Earth. This means it is part of a very large group of connected businesses.

Toyota museum 026
Toyota museum 026

The company's origins lie in the textile industry. Sakichi Toyoda invented the Toyoda Model G Automatic loom in 1924.

Toyota Loom Mass Production Bertel Schmitt
Toyota Loom Mass Production Bertel Schmitt

This machine used a principle called jidoka. Jidoka means that a machine stops itself automatically when a problem occurs. This concept became a vital part of the Toyota Production System. In 1929, the patent for the loom was sold to a British company. The money from this sale provided the capital needed to develop automobiles. Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi's son, led this new direction for the family business.

Toyota's early development involved many experimental steps. In 1934, the company completed a prototype known as the Type A engine. They followed this by finishing their first prototype sedan, the A1, in 1935. The company's first official production model was the G1 truck, released in 1935.

1936 Toyoda Model AA 03
1936 Toyoda Model AA 03

In April 1936, they finished their first passenger car, the Model AA. The company was officially designated as an automotive manufacturer by the Japanese government in 1936. On August 28, 1937, the company formally incorporated as the Toyota Motor Company Ltd. This transition moved manufacturing from the original loom works to the new entity.

The name change from Toyoda to Toyota was very intentional. Rizaburo Toyoda, who married into the family, suggested the new name. He believed "Toyota" was visually simpler to write. In Japanese, the name Toyota requires eight brush strokes. This was considered a lucky number. The name also sounded clearer because it used a voiceless consonant. Additionally, "toyoda" means fertile rice paddies in Japanese. Changing the name helped the company avoid being linked to old-fashioned farming.

Toyota
Toyota

Toyota experienced significant growth during the Japanese economic miracle of the 1960s. As the economy improved, more people could afford to buy cars. Toyota released the Corolla during this time. The Corolla eventually became the best-selling automobile in history.

1987 Toyota Corolla (AE82) CS sedan (2015-11-11) 01
1987 Toyota Corolla (AE82) CS sedan (2015-11-11) 01

The company also expanded into international markets. They entered Saudi Arabia in 1955 with Land Cruisers. They also established a production facility in Brazil in 1958. By 1972, Toyota began making manufacturing investments in the United States. They even partnered with Atlas Fabricators to build truck beds in Long Beach. This helped them avoid high import taxes known as the chicken tax.

Toyota has reached incredible production milestones over the decades. In 2012, it became the first automaker to produce more than 10 million vehicles in a single year. That same year, the company reported it had produced its 200 millionth vehicle. By September 2023, total production had reached 300 million vehicles.

The company is also a leader in hybrid technology. They introduced the original Toyota Prius in 1997.

1998 Toyota Prius NHW10 Silver Strara Metallic (front)
1998 Toyota Prius NHW10 Silver Strara Metallic (front)

Today, Toyota sells more than 40 different hybrid vehicle models globally. They also develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles like the Toyota Mirai.

Toyota Mirai (JPD20) IMG 5303
Toyota Mirai (JPD20) IMG 5303

The Toyota Motor Corporation operates through several distinct brands. These include the namesake Toyota brand, Lexus, Daihatsu, Hino, and Century.

Lexus LS 400 UCF10 I
Lexus LS 400 UCF10 I

The company also holds ownership stakes in many other famous automotive companies. They own 20% of Subaru Corporation and 5.1% of Mazda. They also have shares in Suzuki, Isuzu, Yamaha Motor Corporation, and Panasonic. These connections make Toyota a massive influence across the entire global automotive industry. Their stock is traded on major exchanges in Tokyo, New York, London, and Nagoya.

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🖼️ Images & Media (34)
File:Toyota.svg
Toyota.svg
File:Toyota Loom Mass Production Bertel Schmitt.jpg
Toyota Loom Mass Production Bertel Schmitt.jpg
File:1936 Toyoda Model AA 03.jpg
1936 Toyoda Model AA 03.jpg
File:1955 Toyopet Crown 03.jpg
1955 Toyopet Crown 03.jpg
File:Toyota 2000GT 1968 (4120827306).jpg
Toyota 2000GT 1968 (4120827306).jpg
File:1987 Toyota Corolla (AE82) CS sedan (2015-11-11) 01.jpg
1987 Toyota Corolla (AE82) CS sedan...
File:Lexus LS 400 UCF10 I.jpg
Lexus LS 400 UCF10 I.jpg
File:1994 Toyota Supra Sport Roof in Red, front left.jpg
1994 Toyota Supra Sport Roof in Red,...
File:1998 Toyota Prius NHW10 Silver Strara Metallic (front).jpg
1998 Toyota Prius NHW10 Silver Strara...
File:R&D Center of Toyota Susono Shizuoka.jpg
R&D Center of Toyota Susono Shizuoka.jpg
File:Akio Toyoda.jpg
Akio Toyoda.jpg
File:SZ 深圳 Shenzhen 寶安區 Bao'An 歡樂港灣商場 OH Bay Baoan Shopping Mall shop Toyota car showroom July 2023 Px3 01.jpg
SZ 深圳 Shenzhen 寶安區 Bao'An 歡樂港灣商場 OH Bay...

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