The company was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937 as a spin-off from Toyota Industries, which was his father’s company, all with the intention of making cars and other vehicles. Three years earlier, in 1934, while still a department of Toyota Industries, the Type A engine was created, followed in 1936, its first passenger car, the Toyota AA. Currently Toyota Motor Corporation group companies are Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino Motors, along with several “non-automotive” companies. TMC is part of the Toyota Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the world. Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi and in Tokyo.
Today, Toyota is one of the world’s leading vehicle makers, offering a full range of models, from mini vehicles to large trucks. Operating in 75 manufacturing companies across 28 countries globally, Toyota markets vehicles in more than 170 countries, with a complement of a 320,000 strong workforce. Toyota began selling cars in Europe in 1963; they had invested over €7 billion since 1990 and currently employ some 80,000 people there. These European operations are supported by a network of 31 National Marketing and Sales Companies in 56 countries, around 3,000 retailers, and nine manufacturing plants. Following this European sales success, Toyota decided in 1989 to establish a manufacturing operation in Europe, it was then that Toyota Manufacturing UK was established in December of that year.
There are two manufacturing plants in the UK representing a total investment in excess of £1.85 billion and currently approximately 3,100 members are employed. The vehicle manufacturing plant is located at Burnaston in Derbyshire; the engine manufacturing plant is located at Deeside in North Wales. The first car, a Carina E, drove off the Burnaston production line on 16 December 1992. The Avensis replaced the Carina E in 1997 and in 2008 the third generation Avensis was launched. In 1998 a second model, the Corolla, was introduced and in 2001 saw the new generation of Corolla. In 2007, production of Auris, the new Toyota hatchback, started replacing Corolla.
Toyota have a broad range of cars; Aygo this tiny city car is designed to deliver affordable urban motoring instead of premium appeal, it is described as being cheeky looking, but has lightweight construction and bargain basement price tag. The Yaris proves you can buy an upmarket, well built supermini without breaking the bank. A great choice if you want value and comfort has to be the British-built Avensis it will be hard to better. The Auris is practical, reliable and affordable; it helped to define the family market. Before the RAV4 arrived in 1994, most 4×4s were designed for driving across rough terrain, at the expense of road manners. But the Toyota combined car-like abilities with chunky looks, practicality and hot hatch performance. The Verso has always been a well kept secret, but this outgoing version of the compact people carrier attracted a loyal following, with its cleverly packaged seven-seat cabin and famed Toyota reliability.
The Toyota mission is "to become a company that creates and shares a desirable future for all, and to be respected and admired by the communities they all operate in".