How Toyota, Dominating the Automotive Market, Got to Where It Is Today

Toyota, which dominates today's automotive market, was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda on August 28, 1937. Vehicles produced by this brand, which was established in the city of Aichi, Japan, can be seen on roads all around the world today.

Toyota's history actually dates back to 1933. Kiichiro Toyoda was the son of Sakichi Toyota, the founder of the Toyota Automatic Loom company. Kiichiro, an entrepreneur with great vision, actually established what we know as Toyota in the automobile division of this company in 1933. In 1937, the company founded by Kiichiro became an independent company under the name Toyota Motor Corporation. However, until 1937, Kiichiro's company initially produced three aerodynamic cars and later began manufacturing mini trucks with the support of the Japanese government for the automotive sector.

Toyota Becomes an Independent Company

Established in 1937, Toyota Motor Corporation managed to increase the number of cars it produced day by day. Moreover, the cars produced by the company at that time managed to surpass American cars, which were in great demand in the Japanese market. During the Pacific War years, Toyota began producing military trucks for the Japanese Imperial Army. However, due to the severe poverty in the country, these trucks were also produced in a very simple and basic manner. In fact, the reason for having only one headlight in these trucks, which Toyota produced for the Imperial Army, was the poverty experienced throughout the country.

With the end of World War II, the company started producing commercial passenger cars in 1947 with the SA model. In 1950, Toyota Motor Sales Corporation, which was independent from the company, was established. Toyota Motor Sales Corporation continued its existence until 1982. In April 1956, the company established the Toyopet dealer chain. The following year, they exported the Toyota Crown model to the United States. This model was also the first Japanese car exported to the United States. The company was now expanding worldwide. The American branch of the company, Toyota Motor Sales Inc, and the Brazilian branch, Toyoto do Brasil S.A, were also established in these years.