History of Toyota

Sakichi Toyoda was born on February 14, 1867 in Shizuoka Prefecture. Since he was the first child of his parents, he automatically became the kacho, or head of the household, in his family, and inherited his father's obligations and his trade as a carpenter. However, Sakishi did not show any interest in carpentry, and in 1885 he decided to become an inventor. From that moment, for the next thirty-five years, he was engaged in the improvement of looms.

In 1890, Sakishi Toyoda develops his first handmade wooden loom. Without a formal education, Sakishi Toyoda learned by trial and error - he believed in the ability to get all the knowledge he needed by working directly with industrial equipment. Sakishi understood that the Japanese industry had to move forward in small steps and fill the market niches that Western companies had ignored. He realized the importance of continuous improvement of equipment regardless of the state of competition.

Sakishi Toyoda believed that none technological process has not yet reached a point of development at which it would be impossible to further improve it. This policy of kaizen (continuous improvement) became one of the foundations of his industrial philosophy.

In 1894, Sakishi had a son, Kiishiro Toyoda, who would later become the founder of Toyota. motor corporation.

In 1924, with the help of his son Kiishiro, Sakishi Toyoda created a fully automated loom, and in 1926 founded a new company, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. Later, Sakishi Toyoda would sell the patent rights for his automatic machine to the British firm Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd for £100,000. Sakishi will give this money to his son Kiishiro, with the command to spend it on establishing an automobile production in his hometown.

Sakishi Toyoda died on October 30, 1930. In the memory of the Japanese, Sakishi remained a man who made his dreams come true, who managed to overcome difficulties and use the favorable opportunities of the Meiji era. Despite widespread opposition to his views, Sakishi was confident until his death that cars would become a promising commodity in the future.

In 1930, according to the posthumous will of Sakishi, his son Kiishiro Toyoda begins to study the production of cars. As a competent engineer, Kiishiro understands that the only right way to start progress is to take advantage of already successful developments. In 1930, Kiishiro Toyoda petitions the board of directors of the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works for space to set up an automotive research laboratory. In 1931, the laboratory began work on the preparation of American internal combustion engines - everything is disassembled "to the screw", studied, broken. Toyoda is trying to choose a prototype engine for own production. This work has been going on for several years. Kiishiro strives to develop a unique Japanese system production, which should take into account the limited space and resources characteristic of this country, as well as the adaptability and versatility of the skills of its population.

In 1933, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. an automobile division is created, headed by Kiishiro Toyoda.

By this time it had already been chosen base engine for copying - in-line six-cylinder Chevrolet. In 1934, after a year of struggling with the unreliability of components, on the basis of the Chevrolet, the "own Toyoda" engine, called TYPE A, was prepared for production. As soon as the engine was ready, work began immediately on preparing the car, and in two directions at once - cars and trucks.

In 1935, the development of the A1 passenger car prototype and the G1 truck prototype was completed.

In 1936, the Toyota logo was approved, and the AA sedan, AB phaeton, and AG truck were put into production. In addition, in 1936, the first export delivery of the G1 truck takes place - 4 vehicles are sent to Northern China.

Until Kiishiro Toyoda got into the automotive industry in earnest, the process of building a car historically involved "learning on the job." This approach leads to increased consumption resources that the Japanese cannot afford. Kiishiro dreams of a system where no item is created before it is needed, thus avoiding storing parts and thus wasting money. Therefore, at the plant of his company, the words "Just in time" become the main slogan. The kaizen and "Just in Time" methods are becoming important elements of the manufacturing philosophy of the Toyoda family.

In 1937, the automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. is allocated to an independent company - Motor Company, Ltd (TMC). By this time, Toyoda received a "government order" for 3,000 trucks for the Japanese army.

The order of military trucks was so profitable that a year later - in 1938 - allowed the Toyoda brothers to build a new real Honsha Plant in the town of Koromo. To this day, this place is the center of the Toyota empire - many years later, the town was even renamed Toyota for the merits of the corporation to the fatherland.

In 1940, Kiishira Toyoda opens the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research. To meet the company's needs for metal, Toyoda Seiko, Ltd. was established in the same year. - the largest Japanese manufacturer of bars and calibrated steel Aichi Steel Works today.

In 1941, a plant for the production of machine tools and equipment is launched - Toyota Machine Works Co., Ltd. In the same 1941, the production of the AE passenger car began, in 1942 the KB truck was launched, and in 1947 the SB passenger truck and small passenger car SA. The year 1947 becomes a landmark for the company - a car with serial number 100,000 rolls off the assembly line.

New system production, developed by Kiishiro Toyoda, increases the efficiency of the company and allows it to supply cars to the market at competitive prices. However, the quality of cars is still not high enough and the company's management does not stop working on solving this problem.

In 1950, the sales department is spun off into a separate company, forming Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. In the same year, Toyota and Ford begin negotiations on the creation of a joint venture, the project of which, among other things, provides for the training of Japanese specialists at American factories.

In January 1951, Eiji Toyoda develops a five-year plan to modernize the company. It includes upgrading equipment and improving production methods.

Like his predecessors, Agee understands that Toyota must operate differently from Western firms. Agee is faced with the task of modernizing production and minimizing resource costs. He is sure that the development of the company depends more on how well its cars are assembled than on how well they are designed. Therefore, Agee puts forward the slogan that production is the most important element in the activities of TMS. The task of designers and engineers is to enable production personnel to perform their duties in the best possible way. At the same time, the status of assembly line employees is noticeably increasing in the company.

In the same 1951, the company launched a system to encourage employees "Propose a new idea." Assembly lines begin production of the BJ Toyota Jeep, the grandfather of today's Land-Cruiser;

In 1957, Toyota Motor Sales USA, the American representative office of Toyota, begins work in the USA. In the same year Toyota car The Crown, launched in 1955 for the Japanese domestic market, is making its first appearance in the US market.

In 1958, Toyota opened a representative office in Brazil, and already in 1962, the millionth car for the domestic market rolled off the assembly line.

Back in the early 1950s, Shoichiro Toyoda, head of corporate planning, came to the conclusion that TMC was using kaizen too late. The practice of fixing defects in cars after they hit the market undermines Toyota's reputation.

In search of means to improve product quality, Soishiro carefully studies the work of E. Deming. As a result, in the early 1950s, Toyota adopted some elements of the American quality guru approach. Soichiro understands that two aspects of the quality management process need to be changed in order to improve the performance of TMS: first, it needs to be more systematized, and second, it needs to be implemented in every department. Soishiro manages to implement the quality program in all parts of the company, and in 1965 TMS was awarded the E. Deming Prize.

In 1966, the first Toyota Corolla rolled off the assembly line - one of the company's future bestsellers. A year later, Eiji Toyoda becomes president of Toyota, at the same time a bilateral agreement is signed with Daihatsu.

In 1969, Toyota exports its millionth car. In the same 1969, the annual sales of the brand in the domestic market reaches 1 million cars.

Production begins in 1970 legendary model Toyota Celica.

After the "oil crisis" of 1974, the international automobile industry finds itself in a difficult position. However, Toyota is one of the few car manufacturers that continues to make steady profits. Many competitors are trying to figure out how the company achieves cost-effective operation in adverse market conditions. Indeed, during this period, Toyota manages to achieve high levels of quality (a small number of defects) and labor productivity (in the late 1980s, the number of cars produced per one employee of the company was two to three times higher than at enterprises in the US and European countries) . Toyota also demonstrates tremendous flexibility, producing relatively small batches. different models with virtually no reduction in quality and productivity. In 1978, production of the Toyota Celica XX, now known as Toyota Supra, and in 1980 - Celica Camry, today known to us as Toyota Camry.

In 1979, the total export of the brand reaches 10,000,000 cars.

In 1982, Eiji Toyoda became chairman of the board of directors of the company. In the same year, he begins negotiations with General Motors (GM) on a grand joint venture - the creation of New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI), which will produce cars based on Japanese model"Corolla" at the recently closed GM plant in Fremont, California. The project is successfully implemented in 1984, which proves the possibility of applying the Toyota production system in Western countries.

In the same 1982, Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. merged into Toyota Motor Corporation. The pace of production and sales continues to grow steadily. In 1985, the total export reaches 20,000,000 cars, in 1986 the 50 millionth car is produced on the domestic market. The year 1986 is marked by an increase in domestic sales to two million cars a year.

After the publication of the book The Machine that Changed the World" (Womack et al., 1990), the Toyota production system is beginning to be called "lean" manufacturing. countries, and not only in the automotive industry.

At the core production system Toyota applies the following principles:

• just-in-time production;
• minimum stocks and efficient use of resources;
• geographical concentration of assembly lines and production of components;
• Creation good opportunities for communication, exclusion of losses;
• signaling the need for details using kanban cards;
• leveling of labor productivity: quick setup of equipment;
• rationalization of production processes and products, standardization of labor;
• the use of automatic means of protection against the inept use of equipment;
• training workers to perform various operations;
• wide introduction of subcontracting relations;
• selective use of machines;
• continuous improvement process (kaizeri);
• organization of group work.

The success of the Toyota Production System makes Japan one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and contributes to increased productivity and labor efficiency in Western countries. For example, as a result of the GM-Toyota (NUMMI) Joint Venture (NUMMI) transition to lean production, its performance in terms of quality, productivity and other indicators is rapidly rising to one of the highest levels in the world. automotive industry USA. "Roast" production has significant differences from Fordist and neo-Fordist methods of mass factory production and has a number of advantages over them, and can also significantly increase the competitiveness of products.

In 1989, a new trademark of Toyota Corporation appeared in the USA - Lexus, created specifically for the American market. And already in 1990, the European division of Toyota, Toyota Motor Europe Marketing & Engineering S.A., began to work.

In the 1990s, Toyota attracted significant investment to increase its market share in the US, Europe, India and Asia, while expanding its lineup. The company uses the latest technical solutions and developments. Two years later - in 1992 - the corporation's first factory in Europe opens - Toyota Motor Manufacturing (U.K.), Ltd. (TMUK Ltd.).

In 1994, the company begins production of another car that is destined to become a world bestseller, the Toyota Rav4. And after 3 years, a car with a hybrid engine, the Toyota Prius, rolls off the assembly line.

The Toyota Auto dealer network is renamed Netz Toyota in 1998. In the same year, Toyota plants in Indiana and West Virginia begin to operate, and a year later the Toyota Kirloskar Motor plant in India.

In 1999, Toyota enters the London and New York stock exchanges, and the 100 millionth car is produced in the domestic market of Japan.

A year later, Toyota Financial Services Corporation was created to track the financial condition of the expanded corporation, and already in 2001, production began at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. in France. (TMF).

In 2002, Toyota competed for the first time in Formula 1 teams. Another Toyota plant starts operating in China, and a car with serial number 10,000,000 is produced in the USA. The 100,000th Toyota Prius is sold in the same year.

By 2005, the world volume Toyota sales Camry reaches 10,000,000 vehicles. At the same time, the production of the small Toyota Aygo begins in Europe, and cars trademark Lexus are beginning to be sold in the Japanese market.

In the same 2005, a significant event for Russia takes place - Toyota Corporation begins construction of a plant near St. Petersburg.

Got off the first car - Toyota Camry.

Toyota Motor is one of the world's largest automakers with $255 billion in annual revenue. The history of the Japanese company Toyota has 93 years. In the Fortune Global 500 ranking, the corporation occupies key positions, entering the top 10 in terms of "financial turnover".

Six and a half million cars a year roll off the conveyors of the concern. The main specialization of the company is the production of cars and trucks, buses. The main brand capacities are concentrated in Japan, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Canada.

Sakishi Toyoda and his son (right) Kiishiro Toyoda

History of creation

The history of the brand began in 1924 with the invention of the cross for the production of fabrics and carpets. Sakishi Toyoda invented the loom. The device stopped on its own when there was a problem. Later, the principle of automatic stop became one of the fundamental points of the brand's production system. Toyota has sold a patent for a textile machine. The management spent the money received on the creation of a department for the production of cars on a gasoline engine.

In 1924, Sakichi, along with his eldest son Kiichiro, came up with the Type G fully automatic loom.

Toyota continued the history of development with the invention of the car engine. Sakishi's eldest son, Kiishiro, took up the study of the European and American automotive industries. As a result, the company created an A1 passenger car and a G1 truck.

The first passenger car A1 was made in May 1935

The first G1 truck was created immediately after the passenger car, in August 1935.

In 1936, Toyota Motor launches the assembly line, from which the first models of passenger and trucks. The first-born were conceptually similar to Chevrolet and Power Wagon. 1937 is important point for a company that became an independent company, named after the founder.

Adjustments to the production of Toyota Motor concern were made by the Second World War. The brand is mainly engaged in the production of trucks for military needs. The history of the company at this time cannot boast of inventions. The raw material base is experiencing serious difficulties: trucks often leave for the front in a "simplified" form, for example, with one headlight.

During World War II, the company was burdened with the production of military equipment for the Imperial Army.

The catastrophe of Japan and the Toyota brand have a similar character. The Japanese imperial army was defeated, the production of the country's main automobile company was subjected to the most severe bombing. Some historians believe that the death of production facilities hastened the surrender of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Post-war development history

Development history continued Model release SA. The economic crisis, the workers' strike forced the company's management to reconsider corporate principles. Toyota entered its heyday in the 1960s. The company owes its success to a unique production management system, which is still in effect today.

Model SA was released in 1947

Research and development of own designs are actively carried out. Model line expands. Land Cruiser, Crown and Publica are born. Publica, being a budget car, is quickly gaining popularity with consumers.

Land Cruiser BJ20 (1955)

1955 Crown RS S30

Publica 1961

The brand tries to expand by opening a division in the US, but fails. Corrects the situation special version corona.

Small pickup Corona 1962 hit the taste of the Americans

1962 is an important milestone in the history of Toyota: 1 million cars were produced.

Since 1970, the company has been improving the units, transferring innovations from expensive cars to cheaper models. The production of brands Sprinter, Celica, Tercel begins.

Sprinter 1970

Celica GT 1970

Tercel 1980

In the mid-eighties, Camry rolled off the assembly line, then Lexus.

Camry 1983

Lexus ES250 1989

The corporate policy of the brand is aimed at signing agreements on long-term cooperation with partners. The company opens its own design center, expanding the geography of Toyota car exports.

The history of the logo

The development history includes the creation of the brand logo. The idea to order an emblem from professional designers belongs to Kiishiro Toyoda. More than twenty thousand advertising specialists participated in the competition. As a result, a sketch was chosen, made using the graphic form of the Japanese katakana syllabary. The word "Toyoda" became "Toyota". The replacement of the letter was necessary in terms of external aesthetics and the use of the number of hieroglyphs. In the second version, it contained eight strokes - a lucky number for the Japanese, promising prosperity and wealth.

The history of the Toyota logo has several stages. The modern brand sign consists of three intersecting ellipses. Small vertical and horizontal cylinders symbolizes the hearts of customers and companies that are inextricably linked. The outer oval represents new horizons and great opportunities. Hidden within the emblem are the letters that make up the Toyota name. 14 years ago company logo acquired volume. So the brand expressed a guarantee of excellent quality.

Production management system

The successful history of the Toyota brand is impossible without a strict adherence to the principles of management. The philosophy of the brand is to contribute to the development of the world. This can be done by issuing flawlessly quality cars. To this end, phased control is used at all stages of the creation of machines, operations are optimized, and costs are reduced. The production system includes:

• stamping - prewash on automated line, then the prepared sheets are fed for cutting, bending, punching holes;
• welding - is carried out in three stages: platform assembly, its connection with the sidewalls and the roof, welding of the trunk, hood, wings, doors. Welding concern Toyota Motor combine automated and manual modes;
• painting - before painting, the body is washed, degreased, covered with a phosphate layer, anti-corrosion primer and baked in an oven. Further processing is carried out with sealant, anti-gravel coating, installation of soundproof mats. This is followed by the stage of painting, varnishing, drying, chip control, finishing with paint;
• assembly - in the assembly shop, doors, windows, airbags and seat belts are installed, suspension is assembled, wiring is laid. All operations are regulated and carried out in a certain order;
• quality control - a thorough check of the functionality and appearance, setting the camber / toe-in and the correct operation of the ABS system.

The concept of development of Toyota is subject to the ecological principle. The environmental factor has had an impact on the history of the creation of Toyota big influence. The enterprise minimizes Negative consequences activities, creates vehicles with the ability to carry out the recycling of a car for one hundred percent. As part of the protection programs environment released hybrid cars Prius, RAV4, Coaster.

Five objectives that guide Toyota in its work:

1. search for reasons;
2. improvement;
3. creativity;
4. team spirit;
5. respect.

Promotion in the Russian market

The interests of the concern in our country are represented by subsidiaries. One company has exclusive rights to import and sell brand cars. The second company is responsible for manufacturing process. The history of the creation of the Toyota Motors plant in Russia begins after the signing of an agreement between the Russian authorities and the corporation.

The launch of the conveyor took place in 2007 in the village of Shushary, Leningrad Region. Capacities were designed for a small amount of output for Russian market. Now the enterprise produces cars for export to Kazakhstan, annually increasing the turnover of cars.

Toyota automobile plant in the village of Shushary, Leningrad region

Extension automotive line not planned. Toyota began joint production of the Land Cruiser Prado at a production site in Vladivostok. Concern Toyota Motor provided technical support to its partners, but then terminated the contract. The management explained the stoppage of production of cars as economic inexpediency.

The company is developing successfully. The lineup The brand has about seventy types of cars. Pickups, minivans, coupes, sedans, crossovers are sold in Europe, Asia, North America including the US and Canada. In 2016, Toyota Motor sold and exported about seven million cars in its own market, overtaking Ford and Volkswagen.

In Russia auto toyota Motors Corporation ranks first in popularity among other Japanese brands. Every year in our country through official dealers more than 98 thousand cars of the brand are sold. Toyota continues to adhere to the main principle: to independently decide their own destiny, believing in themselves and their capabilities.

As practice shows, carpenters are good at not only their direct work. We will not give the most famous example, it is not in our competence, but we will have to face one more confirmation of this fact if we consider the history of one well-known car company. Perhaps one of the most famous in the second half of the twentieth century. This is the Toyota concern, whose history dates back to the 19th century ...

The birth of a great brand

The history of the creation of the company's brand, of course, did not begin at the end of the century before last. Then only Sakichi Toyoda was born. It happened in 1867. He was born into an ordinary peasant family, his father was a carpenter, and his mother earned money by weaving. This was the impetus for the development brilliant inventor, engineer and entrepreneur. Young Sakichi, knowing perfectly the technology of weaving, simply invented a loom of unusual design. This contraption, shown in the photo, later became the foundation of a huge empire, and if not for the Toyoda machine, a famous brand of cars would hardly have been born.

At that time, the English Platt Brother & Co was considered the largest textile manufactory, which appreciated the invention of the Japanese and bought out the patent rights to the equipment. By that time, Toyoda's son, Kiichiro, was already involved in his father's business with might and main and flew to London via the USA to settle all paper issues. The year was 1931, the dawn of the automobile era in the United States, and Kiichiro, like any intelligent and educated young man, was keenly interested in the latest technology and was especially partial to cars. In a word, America spoiled it. Kiichiro returned to his homeland a completely different person and did not want to look at any looms. He raved about cars.

The firstborn of the brand Toyoda

The problem of fathers and children was probably not as acute in Japan as it was in the whole world, since Toyoda's dad supported his son's idea of ​​\u200b\u200bproducing his own car with both hands and financed the development of the company. This was a rather risky move, since Japan was still an agrarian country and no one could predict the development of a relatively new business. Toyoda-son fully justified his father's hopes. It's incredible, but in just five and a half months, Kiichiro managed to build the first car. The model was called A1.

No one knows what proportion of the results of industrial espionage, and what is their own development, but the first Toyoda was very similar in appearance to the Chrysler Airflow (a worthy choice, by the way), and on the technical side, it inherited a lot from various standard for american cars 30s knots. Be that as it may, Chrysler Airflow also had a lot of progressive solutions at that time, so the start of the young company was confident.

New car - new factory

A new factory was specially built for the production of a new Japanese car. The place of deployment is the town of Koromo, this is where Toyota City is now located. Slightly upgraded model A1 was released under the name of Toyoda, but Kiichiro himself did not like it too much. The fact is that the surname is not that it was not euphonious for the English-speaking public, but in literal translation it meant something like a rice plantation.

Agree, Kukuruzkin's car sounds at least not solid. Replacing just one letter, Kiichiro retained family roots, got rid of associations with the country's agrarian past and gave the world a new car brand. Actually, Toyota Motor Corporation was registered already in 1937, and a few months later the serial production of the first Toyota began at the new enterprise.

ahead of the locomotive

Before Toyota wars Motor Corporation produced a little more than two thousand cars of the A1 model and its modifications, and during the war, like the rest of the industry, it switched to military equipment. The company produced trucks, spare parts for military equipment, amphibians and light all-terrain vehicles. It wasn't the most best time for Toyota, but Kiichiro was not going to give up. Immediately after the war, already in October of the 45th, the designers began developing a new Toyota SA model. It was an unpretentious, but very reliable car, almost no foreign solutions were used in its design, and it completely suited the poor market of post-war Japan.

The nimble little car came to the liking and affordability of the Japanese, and the slogan of the advertising campaign was something like “ahead of the locomotive” - a small Toyota was ahead of a high-speed locomotive. But this car did not bring Toyota Motor Corporation to the world market, not marketing moves. The formation of the company as a manufacturer of the highest quality automotive technology in the world, occurred at the turn of the 50s and 60s.

Japanese conveyor

It was at this time that a new assembly method was introduced at the factories of the company, which consisted in minimizing time waste, but at the same time each employee was responsible for the quality of the operation performed. If a worker saw a low-quality part, he could stop the conveyor on his own. It was this method that made it possible to avoid both financial and time costs for Toyota. The history of the company is the history of the creation of a giant automotive industry in fact, out of the blue, without experience, without a legend, even without a logo, by the way ...

The history of the Toyota Motor Corporation logo has been overgrown with various speculations and rumors. In fact, as is typical for the Japanese, they put almost the entire Buddhist philosophy into three intersecting ovals, shifting it to market rails - one oval symbolizes the heart of the car, the second implies the heart of the buyer, and the largest oval, the symbol of the company, unites them with the idea of ​​eternal development and striving for new horizons.

But in principle, if you look closely, then on the logo you can see not only the guy in the hat, but also all the letters from the word that is familiar to every motorist around the world - TOYOTA.

The company's products quickly conquered the market. Already in 1957, the company delivered a car

1962 is known for the release of the millionth car under this brand. And already in 1963, the first Toyota car was produced outside the country (in Australia).

Further development of the company is proceeding at an accelerated pace. New brands of Toyota cars appear on the market almost every year.

In 1966, one of the most popular cars this manufacturer- Toyota Camry.

Significant for the company was 1969. This year, the company's sales reached one million cars in 12 months sold on the domestic market. In addition, the millionth Toyota car was exported in the same year.

For a younger buyer in 1970, the company produced a Toyota Celica car.

Thanks to the product's popularity and high sales volumes, Toyota continued to make a profit even after the international oil crisis in 1974. Cars of this brand are different high quality and a minimum number of defects. In production, a high level of labor productivity is achieved. Calculations made in the late 1980s showed that there were several times more cars produced for each employee of the company than at competing enterprises. Such indicators interested competitors who sought to find out the "secret" of the plant.

Also in 1979, Eiji Toyoda became chairman of the board of directors. Under his leadership, negotiations began with General Motors on joint work companies. As a result, New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) was formed, which began to produce cars in Europe according to the Japanese system.

In the 90s, the share of Toyota cars in the markets of Europe, America, India and Asia increased significantly. At the same time, the model range has also increased.

All Toyota brands

Throughout its history, the company has produced more than 200 car models. Many models have several generations. All Toyota brands are listed below:

car model
Allion
Alphard
Altezza
Altezza Wagon		Land Cruiser Cygnus
Aristo		Land Cruiser Prado
Aurion
Avalon		Lexus RX400h (HSD)
Avensis
		Mark II Wagon Blit
		Mark II Wagon Qualis
	Crown Royal Salon
Camry Gracia Wagon

Model Features

Toyota SA, unlike its predecessors, already had a four-cylinder engine. Has been installed independent suspension. The overall design was already more like modern models. It can be compared with Volkswagen Beetle, which in its properties is similar to the properties of "Toyota"-mark.

Released and exported to the United States in 1957, the Toyota Crown differed in performance from previously released models. They were equipped with a 1.5 liter engine.

The SF car model differed from the previous ones more powerful engine(27 hp more).

With the increase in gas prices in the 70s, the company switched to the production of small cars.

Modern Toyota models

New Toyota brands can be divided by type:

• Among the sedans stand out "Toyota Corolla" and "Toyota Camry".
• Hatchback Toyota Prius.
• SUVs Toyota Land Cruiser.
• Crossovers Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander.
• Minivan Toyota Alphard.
• Pickup
• Minibus Toyota Hiace.

All Toyota brands are distinguished by time-tested comfort and quality.

, ,

The beginning of the history of automobiles is considered to be 1933, when the automobile department was opened in the company Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, specializing in textile production and previously not involved in cars. The head of the department was the eldest son of the owner of the company Sakihi Toyoda Kiichiro Toyoda. Under his leadership, she became world famous. Through the sale of a spinning machine patent to an English company Platt Brothers, Toyota had an impressive start-up capital.

The first Toyota passenger car was produced in 1935, it was called the Model A1.(later renamed Model AA). Following him, the first truck was released - Model G1. Since 1936, Model AA cars have been put into mass production. At the same time, exports began - the first batch of Model G1 trucks (as many as four) were delivered to China. Already in 1937, the automobile department became a separate company, named Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

The development of the company continued after the Second World War. In 1947, another model began to be produced - Toyota Model SA. In 1950, for the first and last time, there was a strike of workers caused by a deep economic crisis. The management of the company resorted to a serious reorganization - a separate company appeared Toyota Motor Sales Co.,Ltd engaged in the sale of products. The reforms had a result and Toyota managed to survive the crisis with minimal losses.

In the 50s Japanese engineer Taichi Ohno developed the concept of Lean Manufacturing, which became the basis of the Toyota Production System. The new system (“kamban”) made it possible to eliminate almost all the wastage of materials, effort and time. Since 1962, the system has become widely used and contributed to the rapid development of the company.

Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of the company, died in 1952. In the fifties, the heyday of Toyota began, with their own efforts developed innovative technologies extensive research has been carried out. Also in the range appeared an SUV - Land cruiser and model Crown. Toyota expanded its influence to the United States, where it appeared Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. At first, the expansion of Japanese cars into the United States market was unsuccessful, but over time, Toyota gained a significant share of the American market.

In 1961, a compact and economical car was released. Toyota Publica, new model rapidly gained popularity. In 1962, the millionth copy of Toyota was produced! In the sixties economic situation in Japan stabilized and began to develop rapidly. has become a strong figure in the markets of all continents. In the USA, the model was very popular Toyota Corona , whose export began in 1965. This model has become the most popular foreign market. Got even more popular next model- released in 1966, Toyota Corolla. This model is still in production today. In the same year Toyota bought another Japanese automaker - Hino. Also purchased in 1967.

In the 70s, the development of Toyota continued, new plants were built, technical re-equipment was constantly carried out. Economic car models began to be equipped almost like expensive models. Production began in 1970 Toyota Celica, and in 1978 - models Sprinter, Tercel, Carina. Tercel was the first Japanese front wheel drive car.. In 1972, the number of cars produced by Toyota exceeded ten million. In that decade, she successfully overcame difficulties - financial, energy, environmental (the government forced the company to recycle exhaust system vehicles to reduce air pollution).

In 1982, Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd merged with Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. to form Toyota Motor Corporation.. Then the production began Toyota Camry(More than five million units have been sold in the US in two decades!). Toyota has become the largest car manufacturer in Japan and the third largest in the world! In 1983, she signed a long-term agreement with General Motors, thanks to which they earned their joint venture in USA. In the same year, the first stage of construction was completed. test site Toyota - Shibetsu, fully built in 1988. In 1986, Toyota produced the 50 millionth copy! There are also new models - Corsa, Corolla II and 4Runner.

A major event was the emergence of an elite model - Lexus. It was the first Japanese luxury car, All previous models were compact, economical in operation and very inexpensive. In 1989, new Lexus models came out - LS400 and ES250.

1990 the design center was opened Tokyo Design Center, as well as the first authorized service station in Soviet Union. Today in Russia it is impossible to count the number of dealerships. The sale of cars is in demand as the sale of tires and wheels in Moscow. Toyota has been actively expanding into the markets of many countries around the world. Toyota did not skimp on research funds - they formed Toyota System Research Inc.. (joint company with Fujitsu Ltd., 1990), Toyota Soft Engineering Inc. (c Nihon Unisys, Ltd., 1991), Toyota System International Inc. (with IBM Japan Ltd. and Toshiba Corp., 1991) . In 1992, Toyota issued Toyota Guiding Principles- the work, which described the principles of the corporation, was expressed corporate philosophy. The Earth Charter was also issued in response to the growing attention to environmental issues in society. In general, Toyota was engaged in environmental programs a lot, as a result, in 1997 it was produced first hybrid model Toyota Hybrid System - Prius, whose sales for 4 years amounted to 80,000 copies worldwide. Soon hybrid engines appeared in models Coaster and RAV4.

The number of cars produced by Toyota continued to grow in progression - in 1991 there were already 70,000,000 of them, in 1996 - 90,000,000. In 1993, dealer agreements were concluded with Volkswagen and Audi. In 1995, a new global business plan was adopted, and the production of a variable valve timing (VVT-i) engine was launched. In 1996, a four-stroke Gas engine With direct injection fuel (D-4). In 1997, a new hybrid model- Raum, in 1998 - Avensis and a new generation SUV Land cruiser 100. The 100 millionth Toyota car was produced in 1999.

Now Toyota confidently occupies a position in the top three of the world's auto giants and the largest in Japan, the production capacity exceeds 5,000,000 cars per year (1 car every 5 seconds)! unites a lot various companies both related to the automotive industry and employed in other areas. Since 2002, he has been participating in the most prestigious racing series - Formula 1.