Chronology
Ever since its founding, Toyota has sought to contribute to a more prosperous society 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.
History of Technological Development
Toyota is striving to develop automobiles that meet the needs of our customers while at the same time achieving an optimal balance between consideration for the environment, safety, drivability, comfort and reliability.
| 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. |