TOYOTA EXPORTS ONE-MILLIONTH CKD VEHICLE

TOKYO―On May 26th Toyota exported its one-millionth CKD (complete knock down) vehicle.

Toyota began its CKD exports in 1960 with the export of RT20 (Corona 1500) vehicles to Mexico. Total CKD exports to all destinations reached 50,000 vehicles in 1966, and 500,000 vehicles in 1972. It took only four years from then, however, in the sixteenth year after Toyota began CKD exports, for the one-millionth vehicle to be put aboard ship for transport overseas. This one million figure does not include exports of semi-knock down (SKD) vehicles.

CKD exports differ greatly from regular exports. They are shipped in various parts to be assembled into complete vehicles in the country of destination. The importing country benefits from CKD imports in ways different from how they benefit from importing completely built-up vehicles. Employment opportunities are created, for example, the introduction of technology in auto-related industries is promoted, and over-all industrialization is promoted.

During a ceremony at Toyota Motor Sales Company's Nagoya Wharf Center, held to commemorate Toyota's export of its one-millionth CKD vehicle, President Seisi Kato of Toyota Motor Sales emphasized Toyota's thinking regarding CKD exports. Kato said that Toyota has always worked in close accord with the countries to which it exports. "Toyota," he said, "believes strongly in mutual understanding based on respect for the way that people in host countries view things. We have always made certain that our plans for CKD exports were discussed thoroughly with host countries, and I personally believe that the agreements we have reached with other countries regarding CKD exports have always been fair and have always been marked by a spirit of international cooperation."

President Kato went on to say that Toyota's success in improving dramatically its system for exporting CKD vehicles "owes much to the tremendous efforts and support of a great number of people involved in our work in Japan and overseas."

Toyota now exports about 150,000 CKD vehicles per year, which account for nearly 20 per cent of all Toyota exports. Of the more than 140 nations to which Toyota exports its vehicles, almost half also import Toyota CKD (SKD included) vehicles, and fifteen countries are overseas CKD assembly points. These countries are Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Union of South Africa and Venezuela.

The vehicle marking Toyota's one-millionth CKD export (a Corona 1600) was loaded aboard ship on May 26th at Toyota's Nagoya Wharf Center and is now heading for Thailand.

Yearly and Cumulative Figures for Toyota's CKD Exports