Business Diversification
Marine Business
Ponam-35, a premium cruiser
In 1990, with the goal of bringing its car-making expertise to the marine field, Toyota established the Marine Business Planning Office to commence R&D on pleasure crafts.
In 1997, Toyota established its Marine Business Division and also set up a boat sales and service network.
Toyota adopted aluminum hulls in its products and applied engine technology and quality control methods perfected in car making, producing boats that are safe, comfortable, environment-friendly, and attractive to customers.
More recently, Toyota has also been actively expanding its manufacturing and sale of marine engines in addition to marine crafts.
|
Year
|
Month
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|
|
1989
|
November
|
Toyota begins considering the possibility of establishing a marine business
|
|
1990
|
February
|
Marine Business Planning Office established inside the Business Development Division
|
|
June
|
Land, sea, and air mobility fields set as Toyota's main targets
|
|
|
1991
|
July
|
Toyota makes a decision to produce a prototype craft using a new-concept aluminum hull
|
|
1992
|
September
|
27-foot prototype craft completed and test drive and performance evaluation carried out
|
|
October
|
Toyota invests in Shin Nishinomiya Yacht Harbor Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
1993
|
June
|
Toyota invests in Nagasaki Sunset Marina Co., Ltd.
|
|
October
|
Basic plan to formally establish a marine business submitted at the senior directors' meeting, and development of a 28-foot prototype craft approved
|
|
|
November
|
Toyota invests in Yokohama Bayside Marina Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
1994
|
September
|
First two crafts completed and performance and durability tests carried out
|
|
1995
|
January
|
Search for a production subcontractor in New Zealand started
|
|
1996
|
January
|
Business plan submitted to and approved by the Top Executive Meeting
|
|
January
|
Decision made for production subcontractor in New Zealand
|
|
|
1997
|
January
|
Marine Business Division becomes independent
|
|
February
|
Ponam-28 unveiled
|
|
|
February
|
Crafts exhibited in boat shows (in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya)
|
|
|
April
|
The Tahara PDI Center (for inspecting imported crafts prior to customer shipment) begins operating
|
|
|
May
|
Toyota becomes a full member and director of the Japan Boating Industry Association, participating in various committee activities
|
|
|
1998
|
January
|
Signing of distributors started and agreements with 16 stores concluded
|
|
April
|
Directly owned sales locations started (in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya).
|
|
|
1999
|
February
|
Ponam-37, 26S, and 26F launched
|
|
February
|
Sale of Epic 21 and 22 started in Japan (powered by M1UZ Marine Engine)
|
|
|
June
|
11 service stores signed up
|
|
|
August
|
Epic X22 launched
|
|
|
2000
|
May
|
Toyota assumes the vice chairmanship at the Japan Boating Industry Association
|
|
August
|
The cumulative total number of Toyota boats sold reaches 100
|
|
|
September
|
Epic S22 launched
|
|
|
November
|
Toyota begins subcontracting the production of the Ponam-26F to Yamaha Gamagori Manufacturing Works Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
2001
|
April
|
Service plant set up in synchronization with the opening of the Laguna Marina
|
|
September
|
Start of M1KZ Marine Engine sales to NANNI Industries in France
|
|
|
2002
|
January
|
Sale of the Epic ended
|
|
February
|
Ponam-26L launched
|
|
|
March
|
The cumulative total number of Toyota boats sold reaches 200
|
|
|
June
|
Ponam-26L manufacturing subcontractor changed (from Yamaha Gamagori Manufacturing to Y M Shido K.K.)
|
|
|
2003
|
September
|
Ponam-28 II and Ponam-28G II launched
|
|
2004
|
March
|
The cumulative total number of Toyota boats sold reaches 300
|
|
2005
|
March
|
Production of the Ponam-45 (boat No. 1) subcontracted to Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (subsequent boats are to be manufactured by New Japan Marine Co., Ltd.)
|
|
August
|
The cumulative total number of Toyota boats sold reaches 400
|
|
|
August
|
Tahara PDI Center closed
|
|
|
September
|
Production and sale of the Ponam-37 ended (produced up to boat No. 12)
|
|
|
October
|
Ponam-45 launched (equipped with new technologies such as Toyota Drive Assist function)
|
|
|
2006
|
March
|
Toyota subcontracts the production of the Ponam-45 to New Japan Marine (beginning with boat No. 2)
|
|
August
|
10-year anniversary boat with special commemorative specifications launched
|
|
|
October
|
The cumulative total number of Toyota boats sold reaches 500
|
|
|
2007
|
January
|
Start of installation of M1KD Marine Engine to Panam(The first Japan made common rail diesel engine for pleasure boat)
|
|
October
|
Marine air conditioner sample shipped to Yanmar Ship Building & Engineering Co., Ltd. (mass-production shipment began in August 2008)
|
|
|
2008
|
January
|
Names and locations of sales offices changed
- Tokyo (Kudan Building) to Eastern Japan (Tokyo Headquarters) - Nagoya to Chubu - Osaka (Osaka Toyota Building) to Western Japan (Amagasaki) |
|
February
|
Ponam-26L II launched
|
|
|
March
|
The cumulative total number of Toyota boats sold reaches 600
|
|
|
December
|
Ponam-28L launched
|
|
|
December
|
The Toyota Marine Laguna (showroom) opens inside the Laguna Gamagori
|
|
|
2009
|
January
|
Marine engine business transferred from the Business Development Division to the Marine Business Division
|
|
March
|
The Ponam-28L wins the first Boat of the Year Japan award
|
|
|
November
|
The Ponam-28L wins the 2009 Good Design Award
|
|
|
2010
|
January
|
Vehicle unit sales business transferred from the Business Development Division to the Marine Business Division, which changes its name to 'Marine & Unit Business Division'
|
|
March
|
Marine components and Ponam-28L exhibited at the Auckland International Boat Show (New Zealand)
|
|
|
2011
|
September
|
Ponam-35 launched
|
