The Beginnings

  1. Taking on the Automotive Business Setting Course to Enter Automotive Business

  2. Visiting Europe and the U.S. to study the automotive industry

    1929

    Kiichiro Toyoda traveled overseas to gather information on the U.S. machine and automotive industries, and signed a patent transfer agreement with Platt Brothers & Co., Ltd. in the UK.

    Signing of the patent transfer agreement with Platt Brothers & Co., Ltd.

    Signing of the patent transfer agreement with Platt Brothers & Co., Ltd.

  3. Research and development of domestic automotive manufacturing

    1930

    Kiichiro Toyoda commenced automotive surveys and research

    1935

    Toyoda Model G1 Truck debuted

    Toyoda Model G1 Truck
    1936

    Toyoda Model AA debuted

    Toyoda Model AA

  4. Preparations for entry into the automotive industry

    1933

    Toyoda Automatic Loom Works established Automotive Division

    The founding staff of the Automotive Division

    The founding staff of the Automotive Division

    1935

    Five Main Principles of Toyoda established

    Five Main Principles of Toyoda
    1936

    Toyota logo established

    Toyota logo
  5. From 1937 Establishment of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

  6. New Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

    1937

    Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. Established

    Main office

    Main office

  7. 1937

    Risaburo Toyoda appointed president, and Kiichiro Toyoda appointed vice president

    Left: Vice President Toyoda, Right: President Toyoda

    Left: Vice President Toyoda, Right: President Toyoda

  8. Operation of Toyota's first plant commences

    1938

    Koromo Plant (now Honsha Plant) operations started

    Kiichiro Toyoda inspecting the plant under construction

    Kiichiro Toyoda inspecting the plant under construction

    Toyota executives on the day of Koromo Plant's foundation

    Toyota executives on the day of Koromo Plant's foundation

    Koromo Plant (now Honsha Plant)

    Koromo Plant (now Honsha Plant)

    1938

    Just-in-Time system launched

  9. 1938

    Toyoda Model GB Truck launched

    Toyoda Model GB Truck

  10. Control of the automobile manufacturing industry under a wartime economy

    1938

    The National Mobilization Law put into force by the Japanese government, which regulated the distribution of materials and fuel for automotive manufacturing

  11. 1939

    Annual production in Japan reaches 10,000 units

  12. 1940s Automobile Prototypes, Research and Development of Basic Technology

  13. Wartime Production

    1941

    Toyota Model AE (Shin Nippon Go) launched Developed to conserve fuel by the request of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

    Toyota Model AE (Shin Nippon Go)
    1943

    Toyota Model KC Truck launched Designed to reduce use of steel as specified by the Ministry of Commerce and industry

  14. 1941

    Kiichiro Toyoda appointed president

    Kiichiro Toyoda

  15. Company reconstruction

    1945

    GHQ permitted production of trucks in September Conversion to consumer goods production permitted in December

    1946

    Restoring of plant and equipment and the Temporary Reconstruction Office established With Kiichiro himself leading the restoration efforts as the head of the office

    1946

    President Kiichiro Toyoda invited national regional distribution representatives to rebuild a dealer network and gave his speech entitled "The Current State of the Automobile Business and the Path Ahead for Toyota Motor Co., Ltd."

    The Current State of the Automobile Business and the Path Ahead for Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

  16. Development of Compact Car Equipped with the S Engine

    1947

    Toyopet Truck Model SB (small truck) launched

    1947

    Toyopet Model SA (compact passenger car) launched

    Toyopet Model SA (compact passenger car)
    1948

    Open test drive of the Toyopet Model SA carried out

    Toyopet Model SA in an open test drive

    Toyopet Model SA in an open test drive
    (Racing against an express train from Nagoya to Osaka)

    1949

    Toyopet Model SD (compact passenger car) launched

    Toyopet Model SD (compact passenger car)

  17. Affiliated companies and future Toyota group member firms established in the 1940s and later

    1940

    Toyoda Seiko, Ltd. (now Aichi Steel Corporation)

    1940

    Toyoda Physical and Chemical Research Institute

    1941

    Toyota Machine Works Co., Ltd. (now JTEKT Co.)

    1943

    Tokai Hikoki Co., Ltd. (now Aisin Corporation)

    1945

    Toyota Shatai Kogyo Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd.)

    1946

    Kanto Electric Motor Works, Ltd. (now Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.)

    1948

    Nisshin Tsusho Kaisha, Ltd. (now Toyota Tsusho Corporation)

    1949

    Nagoya Rubber Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Gosei Co., Ltd.)

    1949

    Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (now Denso Corporation)

    1950

    Minsei Spining Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Boushoku Corporation)

    1953

    Towa Real Estate Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Fudosan Co., Ltd.)

  18. 1947

    Cumulative production in Japan reaches 100,000 units

    Cumulative production in Japan reaches 100,000 units
  19. 1950s Business Management Crisis (Labor dispute); Establishment of Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd.

  20. Business management crisis

    1949

    Dodge Line, a financial and monetary contraction policy, was announced by GHQ and provoked a serious recession

    1950

    Deterioration in profitability due to the rising cost of raw materials and the gap between the official price of the product and the market price

    1950

    Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. established on April 3 (Shotaro Kamiya appointed president)

    Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd.

    Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd.

    1950

    A labor dispute over layoffs erupted on April 9

    1950

    President Kiichiro resigned to take responsibility for the labor dispute on June 5

    1950

    The labor dispute concluded on June 10

    Labor dispute concluded

    Labor dispute concluded

    1962

    Joint Declaration of Labor and Management signed

  21. Mass production of four-wheel drive vehicles

    1951

    Land Cruiser (BJ) launched

    Land Cruiser (BJ)

  22. Internal systems and programs established

    1951

    Facility Modernization Five-Year Plan created

    1951

    Creative Idea Suggestion System begun

    1952

    Company song and company flag established

    1953

    "Good Thinking, Good Products" selected as the corporate slogan

    "Good Thinking, Good Products" selected as the corporate slogan

    "Good Thinking, Good Products" selected as the corporate slogan

    1954

    Main Technical Building (Technical Center) completed

    Main Technical Building (Technical Center)

    Main Technical Building (Technical Center)

    1956

    Honsha Test Track completed

  23. Development of a full-fledged passenger car based on Japanese technology

    1952

    The R Engine, featuring a major boost in output, completed

    The R Engine
    1953

    Toyopet Super Model RH fitted with R engine launched

    Toyopet Super Model RHK

    Toyopet Super Model RHK

    Toyopet Super Model RHN

    Toyopet Super Model RHN

    1955

    Toyopet Crown (Model RS) launched Entirely based on original Japanese technology, from design through manufacturing

    Toyopet Crown (Model RS)

  24. Toyota's entry into overseas markets

    1957

    Crown became first Japanese passenger car to be exported to the U.S

    Toyopet Crown shipped to the U.S., marking Japan's first car export to the U.S.

    Toyopet Crown shipped to the U.S., marking Japan's first car export to the U.S.

    1957

    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. established

    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

    1958

    Toyota do Brasil Ltda. (TDB) established

  25. Expansion of the automobile market (to accommodate the small car market)

    1957

    Toyopet Corona launched

    Toyopet Corona
  26. 1959

    Cumulative production in Japan reached 500,000 units

    Cumulative production in Japan reached 500,000 units