Photo: Toyota
OK, maybe Toyota got it on the wrong foot when entering the US market in the 50’s, but look where it has gone now, selling millions of vehicles there.
In September 1957, the first two Toyota Toyopets were unloaded at the port down in LA. Confident in its new product, the Japanese automaker was issuing extended warranties against defective parts and workmanship up to six months or 6,000 miles (9,650 km), compared to the four moths/4,000 miles (6,430 km) regular ones.
Even so, the car didn’t made it as it wasn’t designed for the American open roads. Being constructed for the narrow twisty roads of Japan, the car was feeling underpowered on highways and it was overheating.
But the automaker didn’t stop, learned from its mistakes and in 1965 it came up with a completely redesigned one, named the Toyota Corona, which become its first big hit on the US market.
Even so, the car didn’t made it as it wasn’t designed for the American open roads. Being constructed for the narrow twisty roads of Japan, the car was feeling underpowered on highways and it was overheating.
But the automaker didn’t stop, learned from its mistakes and in 1965 it came up with a completely redesigned one, named the Toyota Corona, which become its first big hit on the US market.
Google News