History
Origins in Toyoda Automatic Loom ¡ª1936
Replica of the Toyota Model AA, the first production model of Toyota in 1936
The story of Toyota Motor Corporation began in September 1933 when Toyoda Automatic Loom created a new division devoted to the production of automobiles. Quickly thereafter, the division produced its first Type A Engine in 1934, which in turn was used for the production of the first Model A1 passenger in May 1935 and the G1 truck in August 1935. Production of the model AA passenger started in 1936.
Although the Toyota Group is most well known today for its cars, it is still in the textile and still makes automatic looms (fully computerized, of course).
Establishment of Toyota Motor Co. and WWII 1936¨C1946
Toyota Motor Co. was established as an independent company in 1937. Although the founding family name is Toyoda (ØNÌï), the company name was changed to:
¡¤ Signify the separation of the founders' work life from life;
¡¤ Simplify the pronunciation, and
¡¤ Give the company an auspicious beginning. Toyota (¥È¥è¥¿) is considered luckier than Toyoda (ØNÌï) in Japan, where eight is regarded as a lucky number, and eight is the number of strokes it takes to write Toyota in Katakana.
During the Pacific War the company was dedicated to truck production for the Imperial Army. Because of severe shortages in Japan, military trucks were kept as simple as possible. For example, the trucks had only one headlight on the center of the hood.
Fortunately for Toyota, the war ended shortly before a scheduled allied bombing run on the Toyota factories in Aichi.
Start of Commercial Production 1947-
Commercial passenger product ...