Toyota began full-fledged efforts to penetrate overseas markets in the 1950s, from which time it steadily expanded its list of export destinations to include countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and finally the Middle East.
In the 1960s, it officially resumed export of passenger cars to the U.S., an endeavor it previously had given up. It also established a number of distributors and local assembly companies in Europe.
By the 1970s, exports to the U.S. had increased dramatically, quickly turning North America into Toyota's largest export destination. Stronger policies promoting domestic production were also instituted in many countries around this time, including Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and South Africa, and alongside an increase in the number of models that could be exported as CKD kits, this steadily increased CKD exports.
In the 1980s and 1990s, trade friction exacerbated by a sudden rise in exports led Toyota to accelerate plant construction and enhance production capacity in the U.S. and Europe. This, combined with a sharp appreciation of the yen, caused exports to weaken. Still, in 1986-87, the North American and European markets together accounted for nearly 80% of all exports.
In the 2000s, demand in foreign markets, particularly North America, grew faster than increases in overseas production, which had the effect of boosting exports to the continent and other markets.
Since 2009, automobile demand has tended to decline in Western countries as a result of the financial crisis triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in autumn 2008, while automobile markets have expanded in emerging countries such as China and in resource-rich countries of the Middle East.
1936-1965
Unit=one vehicle
Year |
North America |
Latin America |
Europe |
Africa |
Asia & Oceania |
Middle East |
Other |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
4 |
1937 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
883 |
- |
- |
883 |
1938 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
278 |
- |
- |
278 |
1939 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
809 |
- |
- |
809 |
1940 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,643 |
- |
- |
1,643 |
1941 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
938 |
- |
- |
938 |
1942 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
545 |
- |
- |
545 |
1943 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
741 |
- |
- |
741 |
1944 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
123 |
- |
- |
123 |
1945 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0 |
1946 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0 |
1947 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
2 |
1948 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
1949 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
179 |
- |
11 |
190 |
1950 |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
478 |
2 |
9 |
492 |
1951 |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
207 |
- |
6 |
213 |
1952 |
- |
100 |
- |
- |
206 |
1 |
- |
307 |
1953 |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
277 |
- |
- |
279 |
1954 |
- |
124 |
- |
- |
237 |
- |
2 |
363 |
1955 |
- |
57 |
1 |
- |
193 |
30 |
- |
281 |
1956 |
6 |
231 |
6 |
- |
424 |
202 |
- |
869 |
1957 |
53 |
1,812 |
- |
12 |
2,010 |
230 |
- |
4,117 |
1958 |
887 |
2,166 |
19 |
66 |
1,935 |
449 |
1 |
5,523 |
1959 |
1,597 |
1,850 |
1 |
168 |
1,847 |
671 |
- |
6,134 |
1960 |
534 |
2,102 |
13 |
87 |
2,898 |
467 |
296 |
6,397 |
1961 |
444 |
5,207 |
63 |
276 |
5,095 |
584 |
6 |
11,675 |
1962 |
1,110 |
2,342 |
102 |
989 |
5,954 |
704 |
6 |
11,207 |
1963 |
1,171 |
2,359 |
557 |
4,238 |
14,665 |
1,375 |
14 |
24,379 |
1964 |
3,842 |
3,836 |
2,290 |
7,608 |
23,617 |
1,591 |
1 |
42,785 |
1965 |
13,224 |
4,983 |
5,916 |
7,464 |
28,697 |
3,188 |
2 |
63,474 |
- Note 1:
- Regional categories are as defined by Toyota
- Note 2:
- Excludes military demand; 'Other' includes exports to PX and so on