When and how did Toyota start?
Did you know that one of the biggest automotive brands today started out as a textiles machinery company? In 1924, Toyoda Sakichi invented the Toyoda Model G Automatic Loom and started his manufacturing company, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works.
In 1933, the automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was established by Sakichi’s son, Kiichiro. Three years later in 1936, Toyota announced the release of its first-ever production car, the Model AA sedan.
But wait a minute, why did the company change its name? The Toyoda Automatic Loom Works changed its name in 1937 to ‘Toyota’ because it took eight brushstrokes to write in katakana, and eight was an especially auspicious number in Japan and other East Asian countries. There’s also the fact that Toyota sounds “clearer” than Toyoda in Japanese.
Getting back on topic, the company went through hard times after the Second World War but emerged from its financial crisis in the ’50s. By 2009, Toyota surpassed General Motors as the largest vehicle manufacturer in the world. The business is still run by the Toyoda family and headed by Akio Toyoda, a direct descendant of Sakichi Toyoda.
How many Toyota cars are manufactured and sold?
For the fiscal year 2022, Toyota sold 8.23 million units and earned a total sales revenue of¥31 trillion or approximately $236 Billion (more than P13 trillion). Because of this performance, Toyota is hailed as one of the world’s top automakers in terms of sales for 2022.
As for production, in the first half of 2022 alone, Toyota (including Daihatsu and Hino) has produced 5,097,434 units worldwide. A big factor that’s driving Toyota’s production is the fact that they have 16 production sites in Japan and dozens more around the world. They’re basically everywhere: Asia Pacific, Europe, North and South America, and Africa.
It also has dozens of affiliated companies and subsidiaries. Some well-known companies under the Toyota Group include the Aichi Steel Corporation, Hino Motors, and Toyoda Gosei. Toyota’s subsidiaries are not confined to automobile production and sales. Their subsidiaries deal in a wide variety of industries, such as finance, communications, housing, marine biotechnology, agriculture, afforestation, and medicine.
What’s so special about Toyota?
From car enthusiasts to the average driver, everyone knows that Toyota cars are extremely durable and reliable for a good price. In fact, the average Toyota car can last you up to 20 or even up to 25 years if you really take care of it. That’s approximately 400,000-480,000km. You know you’re getting bang for your buck with this brand. Plus, the resale value of Toyota cars is also unmatched.
Not to mention, they’re also one of the first major automotive companies to manufacture hybrid vehicles, starting with the Prius. In fact, Prius has become such a household term that it’s the first thing people think about when they hear hybrid cars.
Reliable, cost-effective, durable, and cutting-edge? Yep, that’s a Toyota, alright.
What’s the most iconic Toyota car in PH?
If you were already around in the ’90s and the early ’00s, you know all about one of the most iconic Toyota vehicles in the Philippines—the Tamaraw FX. It’s boxy, sure, but everyone knows that iconic silhouette anywhere. It’s the OG people hauler, after all.
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Coming in at second and third are the Vios and the Corolla Altis, respectively. The Vios is one of two models that Toyota Motors Philippines manufactures locally. On the other hand, the Corolla is the longest-standing nameplate in TMP’s local lineup.
What are some memorable Toyota performance cars?
Toyota isn’t just about affordable daily drivers. They’ve also built some impressive sports cars over the years, like the classic 1967 Toyota 2000GT.
But if we’re talking about the fastest car that Toyota has ever built, it’s got to be the Toyota GT-One. Built in 1998, the GT-One was designed to compete in the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its powerful 3.6-liter twin-turbo V8 can produce up to 600hp. In fact, this homologation car can hit speeds of up to 380kph and go from 0-60mph in just 3.2 seconds.
Toyota has also made other extremely fast cars, including the Lexus LFA with a max speed of 325kph, the Lexus LC500 that goes up to 270kph, and the Toyota GR Supra that can hit 249kph. Today, the Gazoo Racing division handles the production of Toyota’s performance sports cars.
What’s the coolest concept Toyota ever built?
We already have a list of the wildest Toyota concept cars, and some of the items on our list include vehicles you can only ever dream of. At the top of that list is the Lexus LF-NX, and we still stand by our bonkers rating for that car–we really can’t say anything more about it because we don’t need to.
Times have changed, though, and there are plenty of concept cars Toyota has released since we came up with that list. One of the coolest Toyota concepts is the 2017 Fine-Comfort Ride, a six-seater fuel cell vehicle with a cruising range of 1,000km and only takes three minutes to refuel. Another cool concept is the 2017 Tj Cruiser, which is technically a crossover and minivan in one. It features impressive hauling capability and plenty of space for a family of four.
Then we have the 2019 GR Supra GT4 Concept introduced during the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. This baby has a roll cage, rear wings, and a suspension that’s lighter than the average Supra, and is one of the most impressive rides Toyota has ever built.
Give me some interesting facts about Toyota
Toyota contributed so much to the Japanese economy that in 1959, a Japanese city was named after it. Don’t believe us? The city of Korona in Aichi Prefecture changed its name to Toyota to honor the biggest and most successful company in Japan. And that’s also where the company’s headquarters is located. Today, about 70,000 or 40% of the city’s population works at Toyota. Talk about a thriving local business!
And since we’re on the topic of Toyota City, you can also visit a number of Toyota Museums in Japan. One of them is the Toyota Kaikan Museum on the grounds of the Toyota Motors Plant in Toyota City. You can go on a plant tour to see how Toyota cars are made and check out Toyota’s concept cars and latest models.
Another museum you can visit in Toyota City is the Toyota Automobile Museum, where you can learn about the history of automobile manufacturing in Japan. If you’re interested in discovering more about Toyota’s founder, you can visit the Sakichi Toyoda Memorial House in Shizuoka Prefecture. Plant tours typically require a reservation so make sure to book in advance.
Where Can I Buy a Toyota in the PH?
Looking to get yourself a brand new Toyota? There are 75 authorized Toyota dealerships in the Philippines alone–20 in Metro Manila, 29 in Luzon, 14 in Visayas, and 12 in Mindanao. You can visit the official Toyota Motors Philippines website to learn more about the dealerships nearest to you.
