The History of Toyota - Fargo, ND
Today, Toyota is known as a global automaker and manufacturer with a “Let’s Go Places” mentality and reputation for reliable cars, trucks, crossovers, and SUVs – a fact that is easily seen with its best-selling figures. However, did you know that the company originally started as a small family business?
Due to Japan’s war with China in the 1930s, the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was encouraged by the Japanese government to expand its manufacturing from the textile industry to also include automobile production. Among other achievements throughout the decade, the company developed and produced a Type A Engine, the Model A1 passenger car, the Model AA, and the G1 truck.
In 1937, the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works created the Toyota Motor Co. – an independent company that specialized in automotive design and production. The company name was changed from the Kanji word “Toyoda” to the similar sounding Katakana word “Toyota,” which has 8 pen strokes in its native script – a lucky number in East Asian culture. Kiichiro Toyoda, son of the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works founder, managed the new company. Kiichiro had previously traveled to Europe and the United States to learn about automobile production, manufacturing, and gasoline-powered engines.
Sadly, the company faced economic ruin and bankruptcy in the aftermath of WWII. After a series of loans, strikes, and a change in management to Taizo Ishida, things started to turn around for the Japanese automaker with the beginning of the Korean War in the early 1950s when the US military ordered 5,000 vehicles from Toyota.
In the 1960s, Toyota was able to expand its research and development systems, as well as production, and by the end of the decade sold its one-millionth unit, effectively solidifying its presence as a worldwide automotive leader.
The “Let’s Go Places” legacy of Toyota innovation lives on in our fleet at Corwin Toyota – so be sure to come test-drive our assortment of cars, trucks, crossovers, and SUVs, as well as our EV options!
