Toyota started out as a family-owned company from Agoya, originally specialists in the manufacture of textile machines until they entered the
automobile business in the thirties, only escaped
1950 bankruptcy thanks to the intervention of a consortium of 24 banks. The business was subsequently split into two sections, a selling company which had the determining role in new model policy, and a manufacturing arm.
Since then financial prudence - one of the healthiest balance-sheets in the world's motor industry - marketing (sales of 2,111,000 vehicles in 1979) and its technical independence (unlike Nissan, Toyota has never built cars under licence) have been hallmarks of the company.
Whilst it has grown Toyota has enlarged its range until it offers a vast choice of models including four-wheel-drive and light commercial vehicles. Toyota has a share in Hino, the truck manufacturers, and Daihatsu, manufacturer of the Charade mini car, is a subsiduary. Despite its shaky beginnings, the firm is often considered as the 'General Motors of Tomorrow'.
Origins:
Manufacturers of textile milling machines. Automobile division founded in 1933, first experimental vehicles: A 1 (car) and G 1 (truck) in 1935, foundation of Toyota Motors, 1937.
Milestones:
First mass-production model: AA (1936).
First model exported to Europe: Toyota Crown de Luxe and Crown Custom (1963).
First model exported to USA: Toyota Crown (1958).
Model most sold abroad: Toyota Corolla - 408,527 units sold in 1979. The Corolla was the world's best-seller in 1979, with 727,419 units produced.
Number of employees (as at 1979): 45,000.
Position among Japanese Manufacturers (as at 1979): 1st (34.2 per cent of home market).
Position among manufacturers/exporters (as at 1979): 1st (29.2 per cent).
Position among world manufacturers (as at 1979): 3rd (2nd for cars).
Car assembly plants abroad (as at 1979): South Africa, Kenya, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Trinidad, Venezuela, Ireland, Portugal. Styling centre and technical centre in California.
Number of cars assembled abroad in 1979: 63,800 (included in a total of 205,896 vehicles assembled in 17 countries).
Associates: Hino (vans, trucks, buses) associated with Toyota since 1966. Daihatsu associated with Toyota since 1967.
Group products (as at 1979): Cars, vans, trucks, buses, four-wheel drive vehicles, tractors, fork-lift trucks, weaving machines, textiles, steel, tools, electric apparatus, property. The ToyotaGroup includes 16 companies in Japan and employs 124,000 people.
Range (as at 1979): Toyota Crown (seven models), Toyota Cressida (five models), Tovota Corona, (seven models), Toyota Carina (nine models), Toyota Celica (nine models), Toyota Corolla (20 models), Toyota Tercel (six models).
