Toyota research

Toyota history: from Sakichi Toyoda's looms to the Prius and US factories

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Toyota grew out of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, founded in 1926 to build automatic looms. Kiichiro Toyoda, son of inventor Sakichi Toyoda, started an automotive division there in 1933 that became Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. in August 1937. Toyota began US sales in 1958, formed NUMMI with GM in 1984 and launched the Prius in 1997.

Toyota history timeline

Milestones link to a full history page with years and production numbers, key variants, what changed and what to check before you buy one.

  1. 1867–1891

    Sakichi Toyoda and his first loom patent

    Sakichi Toyoda was born on February 14, 1867, in Shizuoka Prefecture. His improved wooden hand loom earned Japanese patent No. 1195 on May 14, 1891, and in 1898 he patented Japan's first power loom, a wood-and-iron design.[1],[2]

    Toyota's founding: Sakichi and Kiichiro Toyoda history →

  2. 1924–1926

    The Type G automatic loom and Toyoda Automatic Loom Works

    Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi's eldest son, filed patents for a shuttle-change automatic loom in late 1924. The first Type G Automatic Loom came off the line in November 1925, and Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was established in Kariya on November 18, 1926, to mass-produce it.[3],[4],[5]

    Toyota's founding: Sakichi and Kiichiro Toyoda history →

  3. 1929–1930

    Loom patents sold to Platt

    In December 1929 Kiichiro signed an agreement assigning the automatic-loom patents to Britain's Platt for £100,000, later reduced to £83,500 in total. Sakichi Toyoda died on October 30, 1930.[6],[7]

  4. 1933

    An automotive division inside the loom company

    Kiichiro set up the Automotive Production Division at Toyoda Automatic Loom Works on September 1, 1933. In October he took apart a 1933 Chevrolet to study its engine.[8]

    Toyota's founding: Sakichi and Kiichiro Toyoda history →

  5. 1935–1936

    First prototypes, first sales and the Toyota name

    The Model A1 passenger-car prototype was finished in May 1935 and the first Model G1 truck in August 1935. Improved versions, the Model AA car and Model GA truck, went into production at a new Kariya assembly plant in 1936. That October the company name changed from "Toyoda" to "Toyota."[9],[10],[11],[12],[13]

    Toyota's founding: Sakichi and Kiichiro Toyoda history →

  6. 1937–1938

    Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. is founded

    The automotive department was spun off as Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., registered on August 28, 1937. The Koromo Plant, in what is now Toyota City, was completed on November 3, 1938, the date Toyota designates as its founding.[14],[15]

    Toyota's founding: Sakichi and Kiichiro Toyoda history →

  7. 1951–1954

    The Toyota BJ becomes the Land Cruiser

    Toyota completed its Jeep-type BJ four-wheel-drive prototype in January 1951. Because "Jeep" was a registered trademark, the vehicle was formally renamed the Land Cruiser in June 1954.[16]

    Toyota Land Cruiser history →

  8. 1957–1958

    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and the first US sales

    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. was established in California on October 31, 1957. US sales began in 1958 and totaled 288 vehicles: 287 Toyopet Crown sedans and one Land Cruiser.[17],[18],[19]

  9. 1966–1968

    Corolla launches, then arrives in the US

    The first-generation Corolla went on sale in Japan on November 5, 1966. Exports to the US began in 1968, and Toyota's US exports rose from 98,000 vehicles that year to 155,000 in 1969.[18],[20],[21]

  10. 1975

    Top import brand in the US

    Toyota passed Volkswagen in 1975 to become the best-selling import brand in the US.[18]

  11. 1982

    Toyota Motor Corporation

    Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. merged on July 1, 1982, forming Toyota Motor Corporation and reuniting manufacturing and sales for the first time in 32 years.[22]

  12. 1984

    NUMMI: building cars in America with GM

    Toyota and General Motors each put up half of $200 million in February 1984 to form New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) at GM's former plant in Fremont, California.[18],[23]

    Toyota manufacturing in the US history →

  13. 1986–1988

    Toyota's own US plant in Kentucky

    Toyota picked Georgetown, Kentucky, in December 1985 for its first wholly owned US vehicle plant, broke ground in May 1986 and built its first Kentucky Camry in May 1988.[24],[25],[26]

    Toyota manufacturing in the US history →

  14. 1989

    Lexus

    Toyota launched its luxury brand, Lexus, in the US with the LS 400 and ES 250.[18]

  15. 1997–2000

    Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid car

    The Prius went on sale in Japan in December 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid passenger car. A revised version reached the US for the 2001 model year, launched in July 2000.[27],[28],[29]

    Toyota Prius and Toyota hybrids history →

  16. 2006

    Tundra production in San Antonio

    Toyota opened its 10th North American plant, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas in San Antonio, to build the Tundra.[18],[30]

    Toyota manufacturing in the US history →

  17. 2008

    World's largest automaker

    Toyota passed General Motors in global sales in 2008 to become the world's largest automaker for the first time, and outsold Chevrolet as the top-selling brand in the US.[18]

  18. 2010

    NUMMI closes

    The last Corolla left the NUMMI line on April 1, 2010, ending 25 years and nearly 8 million vehicles at Fremont. Tacoma production moved to the San Antonio plant.[18],[31]

    Toyota manufacturing in the US history →

  19. 2017

    North American headquarters moves to Plano, Texas

    Toyota moved its three separate North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing, and corporate operations into a new campus in Plano, Texas, a $1 billion investment.[18]

  20. 2021–2025

    A US battery plant in North Carolina

    Toyota announced a dedicated US battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina, in 2021. The plant began shipping batteries in June 2025; Toyota lists its investment at $13.9 billion with 5,100 planned jobs.[18],[32]

    Toyota manufacturing in the US history →

  21. 2024

    Land Cruiser returns to the US

    After a three-year break, the Land Cruiser returned for the 2024 model year as a hybrid-only, body-on-frame SUV with the 326-hp i-FORCE MAX powertrain.[33]

    Toyota Land Cruiser history →

Toyota in the US: key milestones

Toyota's US history in brief (Toyota USA Newsroom company history and 75 Years of Toyota)[17],[18],[19],[23]
YearMilestone
1957Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. established in California (October 31)
1958First US sales: 287 Toyopet Crowns and one Land Cruiser
1965Corona goes on sale and becomes the first popular Toyota in America
1968Corolla introduced to American buyers
1975Toyota passes Volkswagen as the #1 import brand
1984NUMMI joint venture with GM formed in Fremont, California
1986First import automaker to sell more than one million vehicles in a single US year
1988Camry production begins at Georgetown, Kentucky
2008Toyota outsells Chevrolet as the #1 brand in the US
2017North American headquarters consolidated in Plano, Texas

Toyota's US plants

Toyota-owned US manufacturing plants and what they build (Toyota facility pages, 2026)[26],[30],[32],[34],[35],[36],[37],[38],[39]
PlantLocationProduction beganBuilds
TMMKGeorgetown, Kentucky1988Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, four-cylinder and V6 engines
TMMIPrinceton, Indiana1998Grand Highlander, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna Hybrid, Lexus TX
TMMWVBuffalo, West Virginia1998Four-cylinder engines, transmissions, hybrid transaxles
TMMALHuntsville, Alabama2003Four-cylinder, 2.4L turbo and twin-turbo V6 engines; differentials
TMMTNJackson, Tennessee2005Engine blocks, transmission cases and housings
TMMTXSan Antonio, Texas2006Tundra, Sequoia, rear axles
TMMMSBlue Springs, Mississippi2011Corolla
MTM (joint venture with Mazda)Huntsville, Alabama2021Corolla Cross (and Mazda CX-50)
TBMNCLiberty, North Carolina2025Lithium-ion batteries for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs

Full detail and buying advice: Toyota manufacturing in the US history.

Toyota hybrid sales milestones

Cumulative hybrid and electrified sales milestones reported by Toyota[18],[28],[40],[41]
WhenMilestoneScope
May 20071 million hybrids soldWorldwide
September 20092 million hybrids soldWorldwide
2009Toyota and Lexus hybrid sales pass 1 millionUS
February 20113 million hybrids soldWorldwide
2011One-millionth Prius soldUS
2017Hybrid sales pass 10 millionWorldwide
January 2020More than 15 million hybrids soldWorldwide
February 202220 million electrified vehicles (HEV, PHEV, FCEV, BEV)Worldwide

Full detail and buying advice: Toyota Prius and Toyota hybrids history.

Every Toyota model history

Origins

Model lines

Toyota in America

Motorsport

How to check a Toyota's factory build

Standardized 17-character VINs began with model year 1981[42]. For a 1981-or-later Toyota, CarWhere can check a VIN for licensed factory build data and, when it exists, list the equipment the vehicle was built with in plain English: see the Toyota build sheet by VIN. Coverage varies by VIN and model year. Earlier vehicles are identified by their original serial number, vehicle data plate and engine stampings instead.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it Toyota and not Toyoda?

The founding family's name is Toyoda, and the early cars and trucks were sold as Toyoda vehicles. In October 1936 the company changed the name to "Toyota" when it adopted a new Toyota logo, and the car company was founded as Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. in 1937.

Who founded Toyota?

Kiichiro Toyoda founded Toyota's car business. He started an automotive division inside Toyoda Automatic Loom Works in 1933, and it was spun off as Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. in 1937. The loom company itself was built on the inventions of his father, Sakichi Toyoda.

When did Toyota start selling cars in the US?

In 1958. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. was founded on October 31, 1957, and in 1958 it sold 288 vehicles: 287 Toyopet Crown sedans and one Land Cruiser. The Crown was withdrawn in 1961, leaving the Land Cruiser as the only Toyota on sale until the Corona arrived in 1965.

When did Toyota start building cars in the US?

Through NUMMI, a joint venture with General Motors in Fremont, California, formed in 1984; the first Toyota car assembled in the US was a Corolla FX16 built there in 1986. Toyota's first wholly owned US vehicle plant, in Georgetown, Kentucky, built its first Camry in May 1988.

Where is Toyota's US headquarters?

Plano, Texas. In 2017 Toyota moved its separate North American headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing, and corporate operations into one campus there.

What was the first Toyota car?

The Model AA passenger car of 1936, the production version of the Model A1 prototype completed in May 1935. Its A engine was developed from a 1933 Chevrolet engine and reached 65 hp after a cylinder-head redesign.

More Toyota research

Sources

Production figures, dates and ratings come from Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor North America press and heritage materials, official race results and reputable automotive press wherever available. References marked secondary are encyclopedic or enthusiast sources used only where a primary figure was not available. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.

  1. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 1, Item 1: Sakichi Toyoda — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  2. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 1, Item 2: Overview of Sakichi Toyoda's Inventions — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  3. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 3, Item 2: Creating the first automatic loom prototype — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  4. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 3, Item 3: Toyoda Boshoku's manufacture of the Type G Automatic Loom — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  5. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 4, Item 1: Mass production of Type G Automatic Loom begins — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  6. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 4, Item 2: Patent Transfer Agreement with Platt — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  7. Part 1, Ch. 1, Sec. 4, Item 3: Downturn in the Cotton Industry and Diversification — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  8. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Item 1: Automobile prototypes (start of automotive research) — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  9. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Item 3: Prototypes of the A Engine and Model A1 Passenger Car — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  10. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Item 4: Prototyping and launch of the Model G1 Truck — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  11. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Item 6: Model AA Passenger Car and Model GA Truck Launched — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  12. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 4, Item 1: Construction of the Automotive Department Assembly Plant — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  13. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 2, Item 5: Sales system and the Toyota name — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  14. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 4, Item 3: Establishment of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Construction of the Koromo Plant — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  15. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 4, Item 4: Description of the Koromo Plant — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  16. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 8, Item 2: Development of four-wheel-drive vehicles such as the Land Cruiser — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  17. Part 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 9, Item 5: Establishment of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and Crown exports — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  18. Company History — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  19. After Seven Decades, Toyota's Legendary Land Cruiser Keeps Rolling Along — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  20. Part 2, Ch. 1, Sec. 5, Item 1: Publica Dealerships (now Toyota Corolla Dealerships) Start Operations — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  21. Part 2, Ch. 1, Sec. 5, Item 5: Exports to the United States — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  22. Part 3, Ch. 1, Sec. 2: Toyota Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Sales form Toyota Motor Corporation — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  23. Part 3, Ch. 1, Sec. 3, Item 2: Joint Venture with GM — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  24. Part 3, Ch. 1, Sec. 3, Item 3: TMC Expands into North America Independently: TMM, TMMC Established — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  25. Toyota Produces First Car at New Kentucky Plant [1988] — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  26. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  27. Part 3, Ch. 4, Sec. 8, Item 1: Development of Prius and Hybrid Strategy — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  28. Part 3, Ch. 4, Sec. 8, Item 1: Development of Prius and Hybrid Strategy (rollout) — 75 Years of Toyota (Toyota Motor Corporation)
  29. Driving Innovation: Celebrating 25 Years of the Toyota Prius — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  30. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  31. On Completion of Production at NUMMI — Toyota Motor Corporation (global.toyota)
  32. Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  33. 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Returns to its Origin — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  34. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  35. Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  36. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  37. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  38. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  39. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (facility page) — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  40. Prius Was Only the Beginning as Toyota Bets Big on Hybrids — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  41. Sales, Production, and Export Results for February 2022 — Toyota USA Newsroom (pressroom.toyota.com)
  42. 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by Toyota Motor Corporation or Toyota Motor North America. Toyota, TRD, GR, Land Cruiser, Prius and the model names are trademarks of their owners.