When it comes to automobiles, Toyota is a household name. We all know the company hails from Japan and is the current biggest auto manufacturer in the world.
However, some exciting yet unknown facts make Toyota, a century-old automotive brand, more attractive and intriguing than ever. Toyota has consistently ranked among the most valuable car brands within the global automotive sector, and its record sales of 11.2 million units in 2024 speak for themselves.
Toyota has many fascinating facts about its origin, evolution, iconic models, innovation, technology, etc.
Please keep reading and tell us how many facts you already know. Here is the list of 18 facts about the Toyota:
1. Origin Of Toyota
Toyota was originally named “Toyoda” after its founder “Sakichi Toyoda”. But in 1936, the company changed its name to “Toyota” for several reasons:
- Ease of pronunciation on a global level
- As per Japanese writing, it takes eight brush strokes to write Toyota, which is considered lucky in the country’s culture.
2. Toyota Was A Textile Business
Toyota was founded in 1924 and was initially a Textile Business named Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Ltd. The company used to sell automatic looms and was doing well.
Later, when the company expanded, it started manufacturing vehicles and engines, which was the birth of the now famous “Toyota Industries Corporation.”
3. First Toyota Was Born In 1936
The first Toyota vehicle was produced in 1936, named the “Model AA.” This introduction gave birth to the Toyota Motor Company in 1937.
4. Toyota City
Toyota has a city named after it in Japan. In 1959, Koromo City changed its name to “Toyota City” to honor the company providing the most employment to the natives.
In 2015, about 70,000 Toyota City residents worked for Toyota. As of 2024, a large proportion of the city’s population is employed by Toyota Motor Corporation or its affiliated companies.
5. Lean Manufacturing
Toyota introduced the lean manufacturing concept, known as the Toyota Production System (TPS). The TPS system focuses on:
- Reducing Waste
- Increasing Efficiency
- & Continuous Improvement
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This model was such a success that since its introduction, it has been widely adopted by global industries to achieve operational excellence.
6. Kaizen Philosophy
Kaizen is Toyota’s core philosophy. It is a Japanese word that means “continuous improvement or change for the better.”
Including Kaizen as one of its primary working principles, Toyota emphasizes the importance of small and gradual changes in its processes and operations to achieve continuous improvement and innovation.
7. Corporate Culture
When it comes to corporate culture, Toyota values teamwork, respect for everyone, and continuous learning. The company’s working values are called the “Toyota Way,” and they guide its business practices and decision-making processes.
8. Global Presence
Toyota has a significant global presence. Its reach can be imagined from the fact that it is one of the largest automakers in the world.
Currently, Toyota operates its manufacturing plants in over 27 countries and markets its vehicles in more than 170 countries and regions. This is a fascinating milestone indeed.
9. Largest Automaker
In 2008, Toyota made history by surpassing General Motors and becoming the world’s largest automaker by sales for the first time. Since then, Toyota has consistently ranked as one of the largest car manufacturers in the world in terms of production volume.
In 2013, Toyota became the first motor company to produce over 10 million cars in one year.
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Now, in 2024, Toyota has a record sales of 11.2 million units, keeping it miles ahead of its top competitors like the Volkswagen Group. However, these impressive sales numbers also include sales of its Hino and Daihatsu brands.
10 No.1 Auto Manufacturer In Australia For 25 Years
As surprising as it may seem, Toyota has been Australia’s most-loved automobile brand for the last 25 years.
In those 25 years, Toyota has remained the #1 selling brand in Australia for 18 consecutive years since 2003.
11. Land Cruiser Is Longest-Running Toyota Series
Toyota Land Cruiser is the company’s longest-running model. The lineup was introduced in 1951, and it has been in production for over 70 years. With the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, this impressive series is shining in its seventh generation.
12. Celica Toyota’s First Mass-Produced Sports Car
Sports 800 was Toyota’s first sports car, but Celica was the company’s first mass-produced sports car. Toyota produced Celica from 1970 to 2006. The model is no longer in production, but it is one of the favorite cars of car fanatics.
13. Hybrid Pioneer
Toyota has established itself as a pioneer in Hybrid vehicles. In 1997, the brand introduced the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, the Toyota Prius.
The introduction of the Toyota Prius revolutionized the global automotive industry. It popularized hybrid technology worldwide and paved the way for eco-friendly vehicles. Although the Prius was not the first hybrid car, it was the most successful. To date, Toyota has sold an estimated 6 million Prius.
According to Toyota’s sales figures for the first quarter of 2024, the company’s first hybrid is as popular as ever. The model has sold about 13,327 Prius units, compared to 5,586 units in 2023.
This increase of about 138.6 percent is a clear indication that Toyota is not only a pioneer in vehicle hybrid technology but also a leader in it.
14. Customer Loyalty
Over the years, Toyota has built a strong reputation for manufacturing durable and reliable vehicles that retain their value over time. The brand consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys, earning a global loyal customer base.
As per J.D. Power Brand Loyalty Study 2023: For a second consecutive year, Toyota has ranked highest among the “mass-market brand” car owners. It has a loyalty rate of 60%.
Toyota has ranked second with a loyalty score of 60.5% among mass-market brand SUV owners. Toyota has ranked second among truck owners with a loyalty rating of 60.4%.
15. Motorsports Heritage
Toyota has been involved in motorsport since the early 1970s. That’s right. This economic car brand has been involved in numerous motorsport activities, including Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, sports car racing, various off-road rallies, and the WRC.
Even now, Toyota joyously participates in the Toyota Racing Series, Super Formula, Formula Three, Formula Drift, NHRA, USAC, Super GT, NASCAR, the WRC, and the WEC.
Also, Toyota has an exclusive motorsport division called “Toyota Gazoo Racing” that handles all of the company’s motorsport activities.
16. Automation and Robotics
Toyota is heavily involved in automation and robotics. The company has spent around $1 billion researching AI and robotics.
The company’s robotics division, Toyota Robotics, develops and manufactures industrial robots for various applications, including healthcare, manufacturing, and assistive devices.
On 2 April 2024, Toyota Robotics disclosed its Bubble-ized Humanoid, Punyo, which aims to augment, not replace, humans. The company states that Punyo aims to help people with their everyday manipulation tasks, such as moving furniture, getting all the groceries from car to home in one go, and more.
17. Environmental Leadership
Toyota is all about environmental sustainability. The ambitious goals it has set to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy indicate the company’s commitment to this task.
Toyota aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, so it has heavily invested in “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology.” This investment is crucial to the company’s vision for a sustainable future.
18. Toyota Is Still A Family Business
Until 2023, Akio Toyoda, a direct descendant of founder Sikichi Toyoda, was Toyota’s CEO. However, on 1 April 2023, he stepped down as Toyota’s president and became chairman of the board.
Toyota has maintained its family roots and presence after 100 years of establishment.
Conclusion
These are top secrets to Toyota, one of the world’s most trusted and reliable car brands. It has always been ahead of its competitors in terms of production and customer loyalty, but many about fanatics are still unaware of some facts.
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