Activities by Region

North America

More than half a century has passed since Toyota exported its first two Crown samples to the United States in 1957, and almost 30 years since production began in 1984 at New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), Toyota's first overseas production site in North America.

During this time, Toyota has overcome numerous challenges, including exhaust gas regulations, trade friction, and a global recession, and in the process has become an integrated corporate citizen of American society.

North America is now home to 11 Toyota manufacturing companies, which in 2002 passed the 10-million-unit milestone for total number of vehicles produced on the continent. Through three distributors and a vast sales network composed of over 1,750 sales companies, over two million Toyota vehicles (Lexus included) are sold in North America each year.

United States

Year
Month
Events
1957
August
Two Crown samples exported
October
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) established in California
1958
February
Directly operated companies Toyota Motor Distributors and Toyota of Hollywood established on the west coast
March
Distribution agreement signed with Service Motor Company (now Servco Pacific Inc.) in Hawaii
June
Dealer agreement signed with Holt Motors in California
July
Crown and Land Cruiser was introduced and sales commenced on the west coast
1959
November
Directly operated company Toyota Motor Distributors of New Jersey established on the east coast
1960
June
Tiara RT20L introduced
1961
March
Export of passenger cars suspended on weak sales
1965
April
New Corona RT43L introduced
December
Distribution agreement signed with Mid-Southern Toyota Distributors in the Midwest
1967
March
New York Representative Office opened
1968
April
Corolla introduced
October
Distribution agreement signed with Southeast Toyota Distributors
1969
June
Distribution agreement signed with Gulf States Toyota Distributors
Hilux and Cressida introduced
1970
April
Distribution agreement signed with Mid-Atlantic Toyota Distributors
1971
January
Distribution agreement signed with New England Toyota Distributors (brought under direct management in March 1978)
May
Celica introduced
1972
January
Hilux truck bed assembly agreement signed with Atlas Fabricators; contract production commenced
1973
February
Mid-Southern Toyota split into three separate companies to strengthen sales in the Midwest (all three brought under direct management in December 1975)
May
Problems emerge due to vehicle supply shortfall
October
Prices of 1974 models raised in response to first oil crisis
Calty Design Research, Inc. established
1974
February
Toyota acquires Atlas Fabricators (Now TABC, Inc.)
1975
December
Dancer Fitzgerald Sampler (DFS) selected as new advertising agency to represent Toyota
Celica Liftback introduced
Toyota beats VW to become largest importer of passenger cars
1976
March
Celica awarded 1976 Import Car of the Year
April
President's 1000 Club established
1977
February
Marketing team sent to Japan to prepare for unveiling of the 1978 Celica
March
Nationwide 24-hour Toyotathon sales event sets new orders record
June
Toyota Technical Center, USA, Inc. (TTC-USA) established
1978
August
Washington Representative Office opened
July
Prices of 1978 models raised in response to major yen appreciation
December
Toyota achieves triple crown in sales: No. 1 in passenger car, truck, and overall sales
1979
September
U.S. Toyota Dealer Meeting held in Tokyo
October
Front-wheel-drive compact car, Tercel introduced
New advertising campaign, `Oh What a Feeling!', launched
1980
August
Import tariff on truck cab chassis raised from 4% to 25%
October
Prices of 1981 models raised in response to strong yen and surge in price of oil
1981
April
Toyota places self-imposed limits on passenger car exports (1.68 million units a year)
October
New Supra introduced
1982
October
New sales financing company, Toyota Motor Credit Corporation, established
November
Construction of a new TMS head office building completed
1983
March
Camry introduced
1984
February
NUMMI established in joint venture with GM
December
First Chevrolet Nova produced at NUMMI
1985
January
New York Office moves to new office in Manhattan
October
U.S. Toyota Dealer Meeting held in Tokyo
1986
January
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (TMM) established in Kentucky (now TMMK)
October
Sale of Corolla FX vehicles produced at NUMMI commenced at Toyota dealers
Prices of 1987 models raised in response to strong yen
December
Toyota reaches one million units in annual sales of imported vehicles for the first time
1987
August
Creation of a second sales network announced
1988
May
Camry production commenced at TMM
1989
December
5S engine production commenced at TMM
 
Lexus LS 400 and Lexus ES 250 released; in Hawaii, Lexus sales
commenced in January 1990
1990
January
Toyota acquires Bodine Aluminum, Inc.
1991
March
TTC's Ann Arbor and Torrance campuses expanded; design operations go into full swing at Ann Arbor
1992
February
Toyota Supplier Support Center (TSSC) established within Toyota Motor Corporate Service of North America Inc. (TMCS) to disclose TPS know-how
June
TTC moves headquarters from Gardener Ann Arbor to Ann Arbor
1993
January
New Bodine plant built in Troy, MO; production of cylinder heads and intake manifolds commenced
April
TTC completes construction of Toyota Arizona Proving Ground (TAPG)
1994
March
Production commenced at TMM's second plant
1996
February
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. (TMMI) established
May
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc.(TMMWV) established
October
Manufacturing headquarters in North America, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TMMNA; now TEMA), established
Name changed from TMM to TMMK in conjunction with establishment of TMMNA
1998
November
L4 engine production commenced at TMMWV
1999
February
Tundra production commenced at TMMI
2000
 
Sales of Prius hybrid vehicle launched
2001
May
Transmission production commenced at TMMWV
June
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL) established
2002
July 29
Celebration of 10 million units produced in North America held at TMMNA
2003
January
Production commenced at TMMI's second plant (East Plant)
March
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc.(TMMTX) established
April
V8 engine production commenced at TMMAL
May
Cumulative sales in Hawaii reaches 300,000 units
June
Scion, Toyota's third marque in the U.S. after Toyota and Lexus, launched; sales commenced at 105 dealers in California;
in Hawaii, Scion brand sales commenced in June 2004
2006
February
North American Production Support Center (NAPSC) opens
March
Toyota announces Camry production arrangement with SIA
April
TMMNA manufacturing headquarters and TTC-USA development operations merged into TEMA, a new North American headquarters for R&D and manufacturing activities
September
Groundbreaking ceremony held at TTC's York Township site
November
Tundra production commenced at TMMTX
 
Annual sales in Hawaii top 20,000 units for the first time
2007
April
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS) established
2008
July
Toyota announces changes to production structure in North America
August
Production operations at TMMI, TMMTX, and TMMAL start three-month non-production period until November
September
Toyota dealers faced lower profits and excess inventory following collapse of Lehman Brothers
2009
August
Toyota announces termination of Corolla and Tacoma production contract with NUMMI
November
TMA's New York office changes location
November 25
TMS, working with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), announces the identification of vehicle-based remedies to eight recalled models*
December
Toyota achieves highest sales for a brand three years running, Lexus among luxury brands 10 years running
2010
January 21
Toyota announces recall of Corolla and seven other models* due to accelerator pedal entrapment problems
February 8
TMS announces implementation of hybrid vehicle recall due to ABS defects
February 24
TMC President Toyoda and TMA President Inaba testify before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
April 1
NUMMI ends 25 years of vehicle production, first started in 1984
April
Recalls for Lexus Series announced (April 19, May 21, July 2)
April 29
Toyota North American Quality Advisory Panel launched ; Panel travels to Japan in May to tour TMC's Quality Management Building, Higashi-Fuji Technical Center, plants, and other facilities to provide advice to Toyota
July
Tacoma production commenced at TMMTX to replace production at NUMMI
August
Toyota announces recall of Corolla and Matrix models due to Electronic Control Module (ECM) defects
2011
August
Line-off ceremony held for new Camry at TMMK (simultaneously telecast in four locations with President Toyoda in attendance)
Press event held at Pebble Beach for a new Lexus GS model (President Toyoda in attendance)
Siena production for Korean market commenced at TMMI
October
Camry production for Korean market commenced at TMMK
November
Toyota World Convention held (first time held overseas)
Corolla production commenced at TMMS
*
`Camry' `Avalon' `Prius' etc.

Canada

Year
Month
Events
1964
July
Distribution agreement signed with Canadian Motor Industries Ltd. (CMI)
November
Crown and Publica introduced
1965
January
Toronto Representative Office opened (closed April 1972)
1966
May
Equity stake in CMI reduced; Mitsui & Co., Ltd. becomes primary shareholder
1967
June
New Corona RT43L introduced
1968
May
Corolla introduced
1969
September
Corolla assembly commenced (ended in November 1975)
1970
March
Hilux introduced
September
CMI completes construction of new headquarters in Ontario
1971
December
Toyota becomes largest importer by total sales
1972
January
Equity stake in CMI acquired (30%)
1975
August
CMI announces layoffs as part of business streamlining program
1979
September
Canadian Dealer Meeting held in Tokyo
October
Front-wheel-drive compact car, Tercel introduced
1980
January
DFS selected as new advertising agency
April
CMI changes name to Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI; 50% stake)
1981
June
Toyota places self-imposed limit on passenger car exports (174,000 units a year)
1982
September
Canadian Dealer Meeting held in Tokyo and Nagoya
1983
March
Corolla introduced
Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc. (CAPTIN) established in British Colombia
1985
February
CAPTIN begins production of aluminum wheels
1986
January
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) established in Ontario
March
Canada Office opened
1988
April
Cumulative sales in Canada reached one million units
November
TMMC begins Corolla production at its South Plant
1990
October
Canadian Lexus channel established, sales commenced
1995
October
TMMC begins assembly and production of engines
1997
August
Production operations commenced at TMMC's North Plant
December
Annual sales in Canada top 100,000 units
1999
June
Cumulative sales in Canada reached two million units
2002
December
Annual sales in Canada top 150,000 units
2003
April
Toyota's share of Canadian market breaks 10%成
September
First overseas production of Lexus-brand vehicles commenced at TMMC
2006
January
Cumulative sales in Canada reached three million units
2007
December
TMMC ends engine assembly and production (operations consolidated at TMMWV)
December
Annual sales in Canada top 200,000 units
2008
October
Consecutive streak of new monthly sales records from January to October ends; sales of top-sellers Yaris and Corolla decline
November
TMMC begins RAV4 production at its Woodstock Plant
2009
November
TCI achieves No.1 in sales by volume since its founding
December
TCI sets new record for monthly market share (15.9%)
2010
January
Recalls announced
February
Prius and Lexus HS recalled
March
TMA President Inaba, TMMC President Tanguay, and TCI President Tomihara testify before Canada's Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
October
Scion brand launched in Canada; sales commenced
2011
January
TCI achieves cumulative sales of four million units
November
Ceremony for 25th anniversary of establishment held at TMMC

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