Toyota
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TOYOTA
The history of Toyota began in 1933 when Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, which originally wasn't related to automobiles and was engaged in textile industry, created an automobile division. Its founder was the elder son of the company owner Sakichi Toyoda, Kiichiro Toyoda, who later led the automobile marque Toyota to world fame. The initial capital for development of the first cars became the money earned from the sales of patent rights on spinning machines of an English company Platt Brothers.
In 1935 the work on the first passenger car which took the name Model A1 (later it was changed to AA) and first truck Model G1 was completed. And in 1936 the car Model AA manufacture was launched. At the same time the first export delivery was made: four trucks G1 were sent to North China. A year later, in 1937, the automobile department was turned into a separate company which took the name of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. This is a brief history of Toyota pre-war development.
After World War II, in 1947, the manufacturing of another model, Toyota Model SA, started. And in 1950, during a severe financial crisis, Toyota went through the first and only strike of its workers. As a result, the corporate policy was reviewed, the department of realization was separated into Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. These were not sweeping but essential changes in Toyota history. However, for the post-war years when the automobile industry of Japan together with other fields endured hard times, the company came out of the crisis with little losses paying grounds for further development.
In the beginning of the 50s, a unique management system "kamban" was conceived by Taiichi Ohno. It allowed to eliminate all kinds of losses: material, time, production capacity. In 1962 the system was embodied at the plants of Toyota group and proved its efficiency in the company's success encouragement.
In 1952 the founder of the company, Kiichiro Toyoda, died. By that time Toyota had entered the period of prosperity. In the 50s Toyota was working on development of its own designs and conducting detailed studies. The product line was extended by such new makes as the Land Cruiser off-roader and the Crown (a well known marque for now). And in the USA Toyota Motor Sales was established that was engaged in Toyota cars exporting to the US market. However, the first attempt of Toyota cars export to the American market broke down. But later, having concluded and coped with the new tasks, Toyota corrected it.
In 1961 the model Toyota Publica was produced. It was a small efficient car that quickly gained popularity. The 1962 was marked by the release of the millionth car in Toyota history. The 60s became a period of improvement of the Japanese economic situation resulting in a rapid growth of car sales.
The network of foreign Toyota dealers was growing: South Africa, Europe and Asia. Toyota became successful within the US market: the Corona, which had been exported since 1965, was quickly wide spread and became the most popular Japanese car abroad.
In 1966 Toyota produced its most popular automobile, the Corolla, which manufacture has been successfully continued to present day; at the same time Toyota signed a business agreement with another Japanese manufacturer Hino. A similar agreement with Daihatsu was signed in 1967. The 1960s came as the consolidating stage in Toyota history.
The 70s were marked by building new plants and constant technical improvements of the units, and
also by shifting the innovative technologies from expensive models, where they had been originally applied, to cheaper ones. Manufacture of such models as Celica (1970), Sprinter, Carina, Mark II and Tercel (1978) started came as important period in Toyota history and models evolution.
Tercel became the first Japanese front-wheels drive car. In 1972 the 10 millionth Toyota car left the assembly line. Having overcome an energy crisis and financial difficulties, having implemented a way of strict raw materials economy, having developed an effective exhast system under the pressure of the air pollution legislation, strengthening the intracorporate policy, Toyota entered the next decade.
In 1982 Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. merged into Toyota Motor Corporation. It was noticeable event in company history. At the same time the production of Toyota Camry was initiated. By that moment Toyota finally established a firm foothold as the largest automobile manufacturer in Japan taking the third place in the world in production volume.
In 1983 Toyota signed a long-term agreement with General Motors milestone point in Toyota history line; and the following year their joint venture in the USA started manufacturing cars. At the same time the first construction line of a private testing area, Shibetsu, which was completed in 1988. In 1986 another Toyota history borderline was crossed - the 50 millionth Toyota car was produced. The same year new models appeared: Corsa, Corolla II, and 4Runner.
One of the main events in the 80s Lexus car marque launch can be considered. It was a Toyota division created to put luxury cars on the market. Before that moment Japan had been associated with small, efficient, cheap and democratic cars; but after the Lexus introduction the situation on the market of expensive luxury cars changed. A year later after the Lexus foundation, in 1989, first models were introduced and offered for sale the Lexus LS400 and the Lexus ES250.
1990 is remarkable in Toyota history for opening the private Tokyo Design Center. It's interesting that in October of the same year the first authorized service station was created in the Soviet Union. Toyota was continuing its global expansion; more and more offices kept on opening in other countries and those already opened were being developed.
In addition scientific and technical studies were actively conducted. Such companies, as Toyota System Research Inc. (conjointly with Fujitsu Ltd., 1990), Toyota Soft Engineering Inc. (conjointly with Nihon Unisys, Ltd., 1991), Toyota System International Inc. (conjointly with IBM Japan Ltd and Toshiba Corp., 1991), etc were established.
In 1992 the Toyota Guiding Principles were published; they were the main principles of the corporation's work and corporate philosophy's expression. At the same time The Earth Charter was released displaying reaction of the growing ecological trends in the society.
Ecology influenced on Toyota development greatly; there were developed plans and programs on environmental protection, and in 1997 model Prius, equipped with Toyota Hybrid System, was produced. Besides Prius, hybrid engines were installed on models Coaster and RAV4.
In the 90s Toyota managed to produce its 70 millionth (1991) and 90 millionth cars (1996), to create in 1992 Toyota Training Center in Vladivostok and conclude dealer treaties with Audi and Volkswagen ensuring further firm step in company history towards growth in quality. In 1995 Toyota signed agreements with Hino and Daihatsu on production distribution by shares. And the same year Toyota declared about developing a new global business-plan and started producing engines with the Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence system (VVT-i).
In 1996 a Toyota Training Center was created in Moscow and manufacture of the four-stroke petrol engine with direct injection of fuel (D-4) started. In 1997, in addition to Prius, it was announced about launch of the manufacture of model
Raum, and in 1998 - of model Avensis and a new generation of the cult offroader Land Cruiser 100. The same year Toyota became the owner of the control packet of shares of Daihatsu. In 1999 the 100 millionth Toyota car was produced in Japan.
In 2000 sales of model Prius ran up to 50 thousand worldwide, a new generation of the RAV4 was launched, and in 2001 the 5 millionth Camry was sold in the USA. Some time later Toyota Motor was established in Russia and the Prius sales ran up to 80 thousand.
For today Toyota is one of the biggest global car manufacturers. Certainly, it is also the largest Japanese automobile manufacturer which produces more than 5.5 million cars per year, that approximately equals to one car per six seconds. As fact, Toyota group includes a number of companies engaged in both automobile and many other spheres. In 2002 Toyota entered a new sphere by participating in Formula 1 honorary and crucial step in the history of any car manufacturer in the world.
In 1935 the work on the first passenger car which took the name Model A1 (later it was changed to AA) and first truck Model G1 was completed. And in 1936 the car Model AA manufacture was launched. At the same time the first export delivery was made: four trucks G1 were sent to North China. A year later, in 1937, the automobile department was turned into a separate company which took the name of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. This is a brief history of Toyota pre-war development.After World War II, in 1947, the manufacturing of another model, Toyota Model SA, started. And in 1950, during a severe financial crisis, Toyota went through the first and only strike of its workers. As a result, the corporate policy was reviewed, the department of realization was separated into Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. These were not sweeping but essential changes in Toyota history. However, for the post-war years when the automobile industry of Japan together with other fields endured hard times, the company came out of the crisis with little losses paying grounds for further development.
In the beginning of the 50s, a unique management system "kamban" was conceived by Taiichi Ohno. It allowed to eliminate all kinds of losses: material, time, production capacity. In 1962 the system was embodied at the plants of Toyota group and proved its efficiency in the company's success encouragement.
In 1952 the founder of the company, Kiichiro Toyoda, died. By that time Toyota had entered the period of prosperity. In the 50s Toyota was working on development of its own designs and conducting detailed studies. The product line was extended by such new makes as the Land Cruiser off-roader and the Crown (a well known marque for now). And in the USA Toyota Motor Sales was established that was engaged in Toyota cars exporting to the US market. However, the first attempt of Toyota cars export to the American market broke down. But later, having concluded and coped with the new tasks, Toyota corrected it.
In 1961 the model Toyota Publica was produced. It was a small efficient car that quickly gained popularity. The 1962 was marked by the release of the millionth car in Toyota history. The 60s became a period of improvement of the Japanese economic situation resulting in a rapid growth of car sales.
The network of foreign Toyota dealers was growing: South Africa, Europe and Asia. Toyota became successful within the US market: the Corona, which had been exported since 1965, was quickly wide spread and became the most popular Japanese car abroad.
In 1966 Toyota produced its most popular automobile, the Corolla, which manufacture has been successfully continued to present day; at the same time Toyota signed a business agreement with another Japanese manufacturer Hino. A similar agreement with Daihatsu was signed in 1967. The 1960s came as the consolidating stage in Toyota history.
The 70s were marked by building new plants and constant technical improvements of the units, and
also by shifting the innovative technologies from expensive models, where they had been originally applied, to cheaper ones. Manufacture of such models as Celica (1970), Sprinter, Carina, Mark II and Tercel (1978) started came as important period in Toyota history and models evolution. Tercel became the first Japanese front-wheels drive car. In 1972 the 10 millionth Toyota car left the assembly line. Having overcome an energy crisis and financial difficulties, having implemented a way of strict raw materials economy, having developed an effective exhast system under the pressure of the air pollution legislation, strengthening the intracorporate policy, Toyota entered the next decade.
In 1982 Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. merged into Toyota Motor Corporation. It was noticeable event in company history. At the same time the production of Toyota Camry was initiated. By that moment Toyota finally established a firm foothold as the largest automobile manufacturer in Japan taking the third place in the world in production volume. In 1983 Toyota signed a long-term agreement with General Motors milestone point in Toyota history line; and the following year their joint venture in the USA started manufacturing cars. At the same time the first construction line of a private testing area, Shibetsu, which was completed in 1988. In 1986 another Toyota history borderline was crossed - the 50 millionth Toyota car was produced. The same year new models appeared: Corsa, Corolla II, and 4Runner.
One of the main events in the 80s Lexus car marque launch can be considered. It was a Toyota division created to put luxury cars on the market. Before that moment Japan had been associated with small, efficient, cheap and democratic cars; but after the Lexus introduction the situation on the market of expensive luxury cars changed. A year later after the Lexus foundation, in 1989, first models were introduced and offered for sale the Lexus LS400 and the Lexus ES250.1990 is remarkable in Toyota history for opening the private Tokyo Design Center. It's interesting that in October of the same year the first authorized service station was created in the Soviet Union. Toyota was continuing its global expansion; more and more offices kept on opening in other countries and those already opened were being developed.
In addition scientific and technical studies were actively conducted. Such companies, as Toyota System Research Inc. (conjointly with Fujitsu Ltd., 1990), Toyota Soft Engineering Inc. (conjointly with Nihon Unisys, Ltd., 1991), Toyota System International Inc. (conjointly with IBM Japan Ltd and Toshiba Corp., 1991), etc were established.
In 1992 the Toyota Guiding Principles were published; they were the main principles of the corporation's work and corporate philosophy's expression. At the same time The Earth Charter was released displaying reaction of the growing ecological trends in the society.
Ecology influenced on Toyota development greatly; there were developed plans and programs on environmental protection, and in 1997 model Prius, equipped with Toyota Hybrid System, was produced. Besides Prius, hybrid engines were installed on models Coaster and RAV4.In the 90s Toyota managed to produce its 70 millionth (1991) and 90 millionth cars (1996), to create in 1992 Toyota Training Center in Vladivostok and conclude dealer treaties with Audi and Volkswagen ensuring further firm step in company history towards growth in quality. In 1995 Toyota signed agreements with Hino and Daihatsu on production distribution by shares. And the same year Toyota declared about developing a new global business-plan and started producing engines with the Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence system (VVT-i).
In 1996 a Toyota Training Center was created in Moscow and manufacture of the four-stroke petrol engine with direct injection of fuel (D-4) started. In 1997, in addition to Prius, it was announced about launch of the manufacture of model
Raum, and in 1998 - of model Avensis and a new generation of the cult offroader Land Cruiser 100. The same year Toyota became the owner of the control packet of shares of Daihatsu. In 1999 the 100 millionth Toyota car was produced in Japan. In 2000 sales of model Prius ran up to 50 thousand worldwide, a new generation of the RAV4 was launched, and in 2001 the 5 millionth Camry was sold in the USA. Some time later Toyota Motor was established in Russia and the Prius sales ran up to 80 thousand.
For today Toyota is one of the biggest global car manufacturers. Certainly, it is also the largest Japanese automobile manufacturer which produces more than 5.5 million cars per year, that approximately equals to one car per six seconds. As fact, Toyota group includes a number of companies engaged in both automobile and many other spheres. In 2002 Toyota entered a new sphere by participating in Formula 1 honorary and crucial step in the history of any car manufacturer in the world.
Toyota History Overview
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