Photo: autoevolution
The first automaker that managed to break the 10 million vehicles per year today celebrates 77 years of existence. It started with some trucks and crappy passenger cars, but now pushes for 11 million vehicles per year, with the Camry and Corolla being the most known models on the planet.
It all started with Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. founded in 1926 by Sakichi Toyoda, the inventor of a series of manual and machine powered looms. In 1924, the Toyota Automatic Loom made a hit and thus raised the company enough to start a business in the auto industry.
This happened on August 28th 1937, when Sakichi’s son, Kiichiro Toyoda, founded what we know today as the Toyota Motor Corporation. This was needed since two auto products were already made by a department of Toyota Industries - the Type A engine and the Toyota AA passenger car.
After the separate company was created, it started to make the Model SB, which was a lightweight truck, and the Model SA, a compact passenger car. The snowball grew bigger, in 1955 the first Crown model got produced and 2 years later it was entering its way on the US market.
Things started to move well after the introduction of the Camry and Corolla models. The company then started to think of new ways to satisfy customers and improve the way we travel today.
Thus the Lexus luxury sub-brand was born in 1989, starting with the LS flagship sedan, now offering over 10 models. The brand is also responsible for the supercar that Jeremy Clarkson fancies the most - the Lexus LFA - which sadly exited production after only 500 units.
Lexus has discussed plans for an LFA successor, but it turned out to be a massive trolling. There will be a new model, but it could happen anytime in the following 30 years.
Returning to other Toyota achievements, we should remind you the company popularized two automotive concepts - hybrids and compact crossovers - with its Prius and RAV4 models.
It also brought racers the fun and joy by launching its most famous sportscar, the Supra Mark IV, fitted with the very potent 2JZ-GTE engines that with the right mods can squeeze over 1,000 hp.
Not to mention the charity and philanthropy actions Toyota did in recent years when catastrophes hit some parts of the world, as well as the donations it made to support children and learning.
Last but not least, we should take a look at what the company plans for the future. It promised to repeat the Prius history with the FCV fuel cell car, which the company believes will represent the future of transportation. Next comes a new successor for the Supra, which has been previewed by the FT-1 concept, and even a smaller affordable sportscar placed under the GT 86.
But those are just the tip of the iceberg as the company has solutions for how we will travel around cities, using shareable electric leaning three-wheelers, wireless battery recharging as well as self-driving interconnected cars that will be able to communicate with the infrastructure.
This happened on August 28th 1937, when Sakichi’s son, Kiichiro Toyoda, founded what we know today as the Toyota Motor Corporation. This was needed since two auto products were already made by a department of Toyota Industries - the Type A engine and the Toyota AA passenger car.
After the separate company was created, it started to make the Model SB, which was a lightweight truck, and the Model SA, a compact passenger car. The snowball grew bigger, in 1955 the first Crown model got produced and 2 years later it was entering its way on the US market.
Things started to move well after the introduction of the Camry and Corolla models. The company then started to think of new ways to satisfy customers and improve the way we travel today.
Thus the Lexus luxury sub-brand was born in 1989, starting with the LS flagship sedan, now offering over 10 models. The brand is also responsible for the supercar that Jeremy Clarkson fancies the most - the Lexus LFA - which sadly exited production after only 500 units.
Lexus has discussed plans for an LFA successor, but it turned out to be a massive trolling. There will be a new model, but it could happen anytime in the following 30 years.
Returning to other Toyota achievements, we should remind you the company popularized two automotive concepts - hybrids and compact crossovers - with its Prius and RAV4 models.
It also brought racers the fun and joy by launching its most famous sportscar, the Supra Mark IV, fitted with the very potent 2JZ-GTE engines that with the right mods can squeeze over 1,000 hp.
Not to mention the charity and philanthropy actions Toyota did in recent years when catastrophes hit some parts of the world, as well as the donations it made to support children and learning.
Last but not least, we should take a look at what the company plans for the future. It promised to repeat the Prius history with the FCV fuel cell car, which the company believes will represent the future of transportation. Next comes a new successor for the Supra, which has been previewed by the FT-1 concept, and even a smaller affordable sportscar placed under the GT 86.
But those are just the tip of the iceberg as the company has solutions for how we will travel around cities, using shareable electric leaning three-wheelers, wireless battery recharging as well as self-driving interconnected cars that will be able to communicate with the infrastructure.
Google News