Activities by Region
Europe
Full-scale exports to Europe, a region with many illustrious and influential automakers, began in the 1960s. High-quality and high fuel efficiency vehicles were gradually accepted by customers in this market, a core market for compact cars, and sales steadily increased, particularly in northern Europe where there were few barriers to imports.
Local production began on a significant scale in the 1990s. In the 2000s, Toyota expanded business in Russia and Eastern Europe and established a solid foothold for expanding its European business. In 2010, cumulative European sales reached 20 million units.
Germany
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1970
|
September
|
Distributor agreement signed with Deutsche Toyota-Vertrieb (DTV)
|
1974
|
November
|
DTV placed under direct control of TMC
|
1976
|
August
|
DTV renamed Toyota Deutschland GmbH (TDG)
|
1979
|
May
|
TDG completes new head office building
|
1986
|
January
|
Regional offices established in Hamburg, Cologne, and Munich
|
1987
|
June
|
Hilux joint production memorandum concluded with VW
|
1989
|
January
|
Hilux production commenced at VW Hanover Plant
|
1997
|
February
|
Hilux production by VW discontinued
|
2008
|
April
|
Toyota exhibits at Hanover Messe in Germany
|
September
|
TME Berlin Office opened
|
|
2011
|
December
|
Alliance with BMW announced (diesel engine procurement, environmental technology tie-up)
|
United Kingdom
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1965
|
August
|
Distributor agreement signed with Motor Imports (MI)
|
1968
|
January
|
MI's automotive division spun off to establish Toyota GB
|
1975
|
December
|
First Japan-U.K. automotive conference held; Self-imposed passenger car export limits implemented
|
1977
|
April
|
London Representative Office opened (closed May 1979)
|
1978
|
March
|
Toyota GB placed under umbrella of Inchcape (an international trading company based in the U.K.)
|
1980
|
December
|
Toyota GB completes new head office building
|
1983
|
August
|
Equity stake in Lotus acquired (holdings transferred to GM in April 1986)
|
1985
|
June
|
London Office opened
|
1989
|
April
|
Decision made to construct TMUK vehicle plant in Burnaston
|
July
|
Decision made to construct TMUK engine plant in Deeside
|
|
December
|
TMUK established
|
|
1990
|
March
|
Equity stake in Toyota GB acquired (5% stake)
|
1992
|
December
|
Carina E production commenced at TMUK (line-off ceremony conducted at vehicle plant)
|
1993
|
June
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of TMUK vehicle plant
|
July
|
Equity stake in Toyota GB increased to 25%
|
|
1998
|
January
|
Equity stake in Toyota GB increased to 51%
|
September
|
Corolla Liftback production commenced by TMUK
|
|
2000
|
September
|
Toyota GB made a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMC
|
2006
|
March
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of Europe Global Production Centre (E-GPC) in TMUK
|
2010
|
June
|
Auris Hybrid production commenced by TMUK
|
France
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1966
|
December
|
Distributor agreement signed with Louis Blanc Automobiles (cancelled September 1970)
|
1967
|
January
|
`Corona' `Crown' introduced
|
1971
|
February
|
Distributor agreement signed with S.I.D.A.T of France
|
1974
|
February
|
Paris Representative Office opened
|
1977
|
July
|
Passenger car export administrative guidance implemented (less than 3% of the market)
|
1978
|
January
|
S.I.D.A.T placed under umbrella of Emil Frey of Switzerland
|
1993
|
July
|
Equity stake in S.I.D.A.T acquired (35% stake)
|
1997
|
December
|
Establishment of TMMF announced
|
1998
|
October
|
TMMF established
|
October
|
Le Rendez-Vous, a showroom operated directly by TMME, opened in Paris
|
|
November
|
ED2 new design center opened in Nice
|
|
1999
|
December
|
TFR made a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMC
|
2000
|
February
|
ED2 operations commenced
|
2001
|
January
|
TMMF line-off ceremony held
|
2010
|
April
|
PHV introduced and large-scale trials started in Strasbourg
|
2011
|
October
|
Toyota announces intention to compete again in 24 Hours of Le Mans
|
Portugal
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1968
|
October
|
CKD export agreement signed with Salvador Caetano ("Caetano")
|
November
|
Corolla assembly commenced
|
|
1969
|
July
|
Lisbon Representative Office opened (closed in 1970)
|
1971
|
March
|
Operations commenced at Caetano assembly plant
|
1972
|
March
|
Equity stake in Caetano acquired (27% stake)
|
1980
|
October
|
Hiace assembly commenced
|
1984
|
May
|
Porto Representative Office opened
|
1986
|
April
|
Export of the Land Cruiser with VM Motor-manufactured engines to Italy commenced
|
2002
|
December
|
Export of the Dyna by Caetano commenced
|
2011
|
October
|
Ceremony held for 40th anniversary of Ovar Plant establishment; Ceremony held to celebrate 100,000 Dyna units (attended by Portuguese Prime Minister)
|
Italy
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1970
|
January
|
Distributor agreement signed with Toyota Italiana
|
1990
|
|
Toyota Motor Italia (TMI) established (100% stake)
|
1993
|
March
|
Distributor agreement with Toyota Italiana terminated
|
Spain
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1983
|
March
|
Distributor agreement signed with Nipauto of Spain
|
1992
|
October
|
Toyota Espana (TSE) established (35% stake)
|
2002
|
September
|
Toyota Espana (TSE) made a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMC
|
Northern Europe
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1962
|
December
|
Crown vehicle exported to Denmark as ample
|
1963
|
May
|
Distributor agreement signed with Erla Auto Import of Denmark
|
1964
|
August
|
Copenhagen Representative Office opened (closed in 1969)
|
September
|
Distributor agreement signed with Korpivaara of Finland
|
|
1969
|
March
|
Distributor agreement signed with Salen & Bikander of Sweden
|
1973
|
April
|
Distributor agreement signed with F. E. Dahl & Co. A/S of Norway
|
November
|
Salen & Bikander spins off its automobile division to establish Toyota Auto Import
|
|
1979
|
May
|
Korpivaara completes new head office building
|
1985
|
July
|
First Northern Europe Strategy Conference held in Norway
|
1991
|
December
|
Toyota Norge established (40% stake)
|
1993
|
July
|
Toyota Estonia established (owned 60% by Korpivaara and 40% by Sumitomo Corporation)
|
1994
|
May
|
Toyota Sweden established (100% stake)
|
1995
|
August
|
Toyota Auto Finland established (100% stake)
|
1997
|
August
|
Toyota Estonia name changed to Toyota Baltic
|
1999
|
July
|
Toyota Danmark established (100% stake)
|
2003
|
March
|
Toyota Baltic made a wholly-owned subsidiary of TFO
|
April
|
Toyota Nordic established (100% stake)
|
|
2004
|
July
|
Toyota Norge made a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMC
|
Eastern Europe
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1979
|
December
|
Single order for 264 Corolla units received from Poland Automobile Public Corporation
|
1990
|
December
|
Toyota Motor Poland established (wholly-owned by Nissho Iwai)
|
1991
|
February
|
Toyota Motor Hungary established (50% stake)
|
1993
|
April
|
Equity stake in Toyota Motor Poland acquired (50% stake)
|
November
|
Toyota Motor Czech established (60% stake)
|
|
1998
|
October
|
TOYOTA ADRIA established in the former Yugoslavia (wholly-owned by Toyota Tsusho Corporation)
|
1999
|
September
|
TMMP established in Poland
|
October
|
Agreement reached with PSA senior executives on investigation of B-Zero project
|
|
2000
|
April
|
Proposal for the B-Zero project's basic framework made by PSA
|
May
|
Toyota Balkans established (wholly-owned by Toyota Hellas)
|
|
October
|
Memorandum concluded for a feasibility study of the B-Zero project
|
|
November
|
Toyota Motor Poland made into a wholly-owned subsidiary
|
|
2001
|
July
|
Memorandum concerning B-Zero joint venture and agreement on joint development signed
|
July
|
000"TOYOTA MOTOR" (TMR) established (owned 70% by TMC and 30% by Toyota Tsusho Corporation)
|
|
December
|
B-Zero project site selected
|
|
2002
|
January
|
Joint venture agreement for joint production of compact passenger car signed with PSA
|
March
|
TPCA, a joint venture company with PSA, established in Czech Republic
|
|
April
|
Production commenced at TMMP
|
|
October
|
TMIP established in Poland
|
|
2004
|
July
|
Toyota Ukraine established (wholly-owned by Sumitomo Corporation)
|
December
|
Russia project site selected
|
|
2005
|
March
|
Joint press conference held for B-Zero project
|
March
|
Production commenced at TMIP
|
|
April
|
Toyota Motor Czech made a wholly-owned subsidiary
|
|
May
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of TPCA
|
|
May
|
TMMR established in Russia
|
|
June
|
TMMR groundbreaking ceremony held
|
|
July
|
TMR made a wholly-owned subsidiary
|
|
2007
|
December
|
Line-off ceremony conducted at TMMR
|
December
|
Toyota Romania established (wholly-owned by Inchcape)
|
|
2008
|
November
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of new TMR offices
|
2011
|
March
|
SKD production plan with Sollers-Bussan (Russian Far East) announced
|
Central Europe
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1964
|
May
|
Distributor agreement signed with Louwman & Parqui of the Netherlands
|
1966
|
January
|
Distributor agreement signed with International Motor of Belgium
|
October
|
Distributor agreement signed with Toyota AG of Switzerland
|
|
1969
|
April
|
Brussels Representative Office (Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd.) opened
|
1970
|
September
|
Distributor agreement signed with Toyota Frey Austria
|
1979
|
July
|
International Motor placed under umbrella of Inchcape of the U.K.
|
1987
|
September
|
Europe Toyota Technical Center established in Brussels
|
1989
|
June
|
TMSE established in Brussels as pan-European sales affiliate
|
September
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of Toyota Europe Office of Creation (Toyota EPOC)
|
|
1990
|
October
|
TMME established through merger of ERO and TMSE
|
October
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of Toyota Motor Marketing Europe NV/SA (TMME) Service Training Center
|
|
1993
|
June
|
Ceremony held to mark opening of Toyota Parts Centre Europe (TPCE) in Diest, Belgium
|
September
|
TMME new head office building completed
|
|
1995
|
July
|
Ceremony held in Brussels to mark opening of TMME's Toyota Accessory and Service Centre (TASC)
|
1998
|
October
|
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing Europe NV/SA (TMEM) established in Brussels for the purpose of coordinating European manufacturing activities
|
1999
|
January
|
Shift of operations to TMME completed
|
November
|
First expansion of TPCE completed
|
|
2002
|
April
|
Toyota Motor Europe S.A./N.V. (TME) established as European holding company
|
2003
|
April
|
TMC's investment in 12 NMSC companies transferred to TMME
|
2005
|
October
|
New TME established through merger of TMME, TMEM, and TME
|
2006
|
January
|
TME Technical Center expanded
|
2007
|
March
|
Second expansion of TPCE completed
|
May
|
TME visited by Belgian King
|
|
2008
|
September
|
Expansion of TME Technical Center announced
|
2011
|
July
|
Organization restructured with localization of operations by region; Europe Division reorganized into TME-Japan; TME President Didier Leroy appointed Chief Officer of Europe Operations Group
|
Southern Europe
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1965
|
August
|
Distributor agreement signed with Cashitopolus of Greece (cancelled in August 1986; contract transferred to Toyota Hellas in January 1987)
|
1983
|
August
|
Athens Representative Office opened
|
1984
|
August
|
Distributor agreement signed with Tokusan of Turkey
|
1990
|
July
|
Toyotasa established in Turkey (40% stake)
|
December
|
Sales of CBUs by Toyotasa commenced
|
|
1994
|
September
|
Corolla production by Toyotasa commenced
|
2000
|
October
|
Toyotasa divided into manufacturing and sales companies; Manufacturing and export company, Toyota Sabanci Motor Manufacturing Turkey Inc (TMMT), established
|
2001
|
October
|
Production and export company name changed to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey Inc. (now TMMT) with acquisition of shares held by Sabanci Holding
|
2002
|
January
|
Corolla Sedan exports by TMMT commenced
|
2009
|
September
|
Toyotasa shares held by Sabanci Holdings sold to ALJ
|
Other
Year
|
Month
|
Events
|
---|---|---|
1967
|
April
|
Corolla introduced in the European market
|
1973
|
January
|
Hiace introduced in the European market
|
February
|
Corolla assembly commenced in Ireland (assembly terminated in December 1983)
|
|
1976
|
March
|
First Europe Product Deployment Meeting held
|
September
|
First Europe Strategy Conference held in Copenhagen
|
|
1978
|
February
|
Starlet introduced in European market
|
1979
|
February
|
Introduction of Tercel to European market announced at Geneva Motor Show
|
1980
|
August
|
First Pan-European sales contest held
|
1982
|
November
|
First Pan-European Dealer Meeting hosted by Toyota held in Monaco; Camry introduction in European market announced
|
1985
|
March
|
First Pan-European Marketing Conference held in Geneva
|
April
|
Pan-European special spec vehicles introduced
|
|
1990
|
May
|
Lexus introduced
|
1997
|
May
|
First European Conference held
|
1998
|
January
|
Carina E renamed Avensis
|
December
|
Toyota captures title as No. 1 Japanese automobile in Europe
|
|
1999
|
January
|
Competition in Formula One racing announced
|
March
|
First Pan-European Dealer Meeting hosted by TMME held in Barcelona
|
|
April
|
Yaris introduced in European market
|
|
2000
|
January
|
Yaris wins 2000 European Car of the Year Award
|
September
|
Prius introduced in European market
|
|
2001
|
November
|
Second Pan-European Dealer Meeting held in Lisbon
|
2002
|
March
|
Toyota competes in Formula One racing
|
2005
|
January
|
Prius wins 2005 European Car of the Year Award
|
January
|
Formal application for European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) membership submitted by TME
|
|
February
|
Third Pan-European Dealer Meeting held in Barcelona
|
|
October
|
IMV manufactured in South Africa introduced
|
|
2006
|
November
|
First European Social Event held in London
|
2007
|
June
|
TME membership approved by the General Assembly of the ACEA
|
December
|
Sales set new record for 11th consecutive year
|
|
2008
|
January
|
TME joins ACEA
|
May
|
Fourth Pan-European Dealer Meeting held in London
|
|
2009
|
January
|
TMC's Europe & Africa Operations Group reorganized
|
June
|
TMC overseas divisions reorganized and new Europe Operations Group created
|
|
November
|
Withdrawal from Formula One announced
|
|
2010
|
March
|
First meeting of the Special Committee for Global Quality held by TMC
|
2011
|
|
Supply shortages occur due to effects of Great East Japan Earthquake and slumping sales continue
|