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The Toyota car company history began 80 years ago, in 1933. The Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, founded by Sakichi Toyoda, created a division focused on manufacturing automobiles. The Automobile Department was headed by Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder’s son, who previously traveled to the United States and Europe in 1929 with the goal of investigating and learning about gasoline-powered engines and automobile production. Under the Japanese government’s encouragement, the company developed vehicles for domestic use. First Vehicles The Automobile Department produced its first engine, the Type A Engine, in 1934 and installed it in the Model A1, a prototype passenger car completed in 1935. The G1 truck followed within the year. In 1936, the division announced that it will be manufacturing three models: the Toyoda Model AA Sedan, AM phaeton, and the GA truck. The G1 truck was the first model to be exported. At around this time, the Toyota logo has been established, and the company has already been working towards the establishment of a separate automobile company. sThe Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. was established in 1937 as an independent and separate company. The company name was changed from the founding family name Toyoda to Toyota because the latter has a lucky 8 strokes when written in katakana. The Company at Wartime and After The Second World War demanded a lot from the nations involved in it. According to the Toyota car company history, the company devoted all its efforts into manufacturing trucks for the use of the Imperial Japanese Army, and due to the limited resources they had to make do with the simplest technology. Instead of the ideal two headlights, Toyota’s army trucks only had one headlight, positioned at the center of the hood. After the war and the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan was struggling to get back on track. Toyota Motors also did their part no matter how difficult it was. They started to produce passenger cars (SA compact), the BM truck, and SB small trucks. However, by the end of 1949, the company was having problems with its finances and was barely holding on. They got a loan, but in 1950 things still weren’t looking up—they only produced 300 trucks. To keep afloat, the company announced layoffs and wage reductions, prompting workers to go on a two-month strike. It was eventually resolved, but then-president Kiichiro Toyoda had to resign. He was replaced by Taizo Ishida, who invested in equipment to improve production. Another chapter of the Toyota car company history had begun. Back in business The company’s saving grace came in the form of another war, this time between the United States and Korea. The US Military ordered over 5000 vehicles, mostly army jeeps, to be used during the Korean War. In the following years, the company expanded its operations by building more production plants, creating a research and development facility, and establishing a dealer chain to manage sales. The company has also begun exporting its automobiles to other countries, partnering with other car companies such as Hino and Daihatsu, and manufacturing vehicles overseas. Now, Toyota Motors is a prominent leader in global automotive sales, especially when it comes to hybrid vehicles. What do you think will happen next in the Toyota car company history? Whatever it is, let’s hope it’s not another war!
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