Overall Chronological Table
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Toyota events
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General events
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1951
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February
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Production Facility Modernization Five-Year Plan created
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March 1
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Order for 1,350 vehicles received as part of the Fourth Korean War Special Procurement boom
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March
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Funds accumulated from Japanese payments for previous U.S. aid loaned to Toyota, Nissan, and Isuzu
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March 31
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Dividend distributed in the 23rd fiscal year for the first time since the end of World War II
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May
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Creative Idea Suggestion System Committee launched
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June
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Operation of a large 2000-ton stamping machine commenced
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June
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Regulations on transfer of foreign used cars go into effect
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July
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Revised Road Transportation Act and Road Transport Vehicle Act go into effect
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July
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Vehicle Registration Order goes into effect
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July
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Commercial Code goes into effect (Companies Act completely revised)
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July
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Korean Cease Fire Conference commences
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August 1
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BX truck and BJ Toyota Jeep launched
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September 24
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First All-Toyota General Sports Competition held (ended after the 45th event)
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September
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San Francisco Peace Treaty and Japan-U.S.A. Security Treaty signed
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October 1
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Model SF compact passenger car launched
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December
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Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd. is renamed Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
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Central Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd. concludes a contract with Willys of the U.S.A. for knock-down assembly of the Jeep (production commenced in February 1952)
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1952
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January 7
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TWI introduced as a program for educating supervisors
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February
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100 FX large trucks exported to Brazil
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March 27
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Former President Kiichiro Toyoda passes away
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March
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SG small truck launched
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April
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Management Accounting System introduced
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June 3
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First President Risaburo Toyoda passes away
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August 6
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Investment made in Kanto Auto Woks, Ltd.
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September
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Production of BQ model, four-wheel drive truck commenced
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October
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Japan's MITI (now METI) creates a policy for handling alliances related to passenger cars and assembly contracts
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October
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Japan's National Police Reserve is reorganized into National Safety Forces
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November 3
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Company song and company flag established
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November
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Prince Motor Co., Ltd. Established
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November
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High-Speed Engine Manufacturing Co. is renamed Ohta Jidosha Kogyo Co., Ltd.
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December 25
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Toyota Rikuso Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Transportation Co., Ltd.) established
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December
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Nissan signs a technology licensing agreement with Austin Motor Co., Ltd. of the U.K. (knock-down production of Austin A40 commences in March 1953)
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December
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High-Speed Engine Manufacturing Co. is renamed Ohta Jidosha Kogyo Co., Ltd.
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1953
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January
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Policy of producing 100% Japanese cars adopted
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February
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Order for 1,236 vehicles, including six-wheel drive vehicles, received from National Safety Forces
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February
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Hino Diesel Industry Co., Ltd. signs an assembly and manufacturing technology support agreement with France's Renault (knock-down production of '4CV' commences in April)
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February
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Japanese Cabinet decides to raise the automobile tax by 50%
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February
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Isuzu signs an assembly and manufacturing technology support agreement with the Rootes Group of the U.K. (knock-down production of Hillman commences in October)
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March 14
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Tokyo Toyopet Motor Sales Co., Ltd. established
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March 31
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'Good Thinking, Good Products' selected as the corporate slogan
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April 20
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General sales distributor agreement on automobile lubricants signed with Standard-Vacuum Oil Company
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April
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Japan and the U.S.A. sign Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation
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April
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Production of S-type engine transferred to Toyoda Automatic Loom Works
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May 1
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Engineering Division established Project General Manager Department
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May
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Nissan launches the Austin A40
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June 11
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Labor dispute erupts (resolved in August)
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June
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Labor dispute erupts at Nissan (resolved in September)
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June
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'Dolphin' mineral oil launched (trademark changed to 'Castle' in September)
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July
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Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. founded
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July
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Korean War Armistice Agreement signed
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August 10
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Investment made in Towa Real Estate Co., Ltd.
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September 25
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Toyopet Super (RH) launched
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September
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RK small truck launched
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December
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IBM statistical accounting machine installed
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December
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First toll road opens in Japan (between Matsusaka and Uji-Yamada)
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December
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Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd. commences knock-down production of the Jeep
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1954
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April
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FA-type large truck launched
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April
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Prince Motor Co., Ltd. merged into Fuji Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
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April
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First Tokyo Motor Show held
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May
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Japanese Cabinet decides to adopt the First Five-Year Road Development Plan
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June 7
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Toyopet Seibi Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Technocraft Co., Ltd.) established
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June
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Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. founded
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June 24
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Land Cruiser selected as the model name of the Toyota Jeep
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July
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Japan's National Safety Forces reorganized into National Defense Forces
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July
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Bank of Japan implements preferential measures for financing exports
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September 1
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Toyopet Light Truck (SKB) launched
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October
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Main Technical Building (Technical Center) completed
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December 1
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Japan Automobile School (now Toyota Tokyo Education Center) opened (in Tachikawa City, Tokyo)
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December
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All Japan Automobile Workers Union (JAWU) adopts a resolution to dissolve at an emergency meeting
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Evaluation of the supermarket method commenced this year
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1955
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January 7
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Toyopet Crown and Toyopet Master (RS and RR types) launched
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January
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Volkswagen of America established
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January 19
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Labor Union renamed Toyota Motor Workers' Union as a result of the dissolution of JAWU
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January
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Nissan launches the Datsun 110
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February 7
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Toyota Management Committee established
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March
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Japan's MITI adopts a new policy on producing foreign passenger cars in Japan
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April 5
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Toyota Used-car Sales Company established
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April
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Asian-African Conference held
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May
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Japan's MITI announces a people's car concept
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May
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Japan's MITI bans importation of all foreign-made cars and parts, except for cars imported for assembly
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June
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Nissan-Minsei Diesel Sales Co., Ltd. established
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July
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Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. established
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July
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Japan's Economic Planning Agency established
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September
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Japan joins the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
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September
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Citroen launches the DS
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October
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Distributor agreement signed with Abdul Latif Jameel Co., Ltd. (ALJ) of Saudi Arabia
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November 1
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Masterline Pickup and Masterline Light Van (RR16 and RR17 types) launched
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November 1
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Toyota Building (now Midland Square) completed in front of the Nagoya Station
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November
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F-type engine installed in the Land Cruiser
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November
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First expatriate staff sent to Sao Paulo, Brazil
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December 9
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Crown Deluxe (RSD) launched
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December
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Japanese Cabinet decides to adopt the Five-Year Plan for Economic Self-Support
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-
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Japan enters the economic boom of the mid-1950s
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1956
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February 21
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Agreement to borrow 2.35 million dollars signed with the World Bank
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February
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Automobile Liability Security Act goes into effect
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March 1
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Overseas Planning Department established; evaluates a plan to establish an operation in Brazil
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March
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Act on Special Measures concerning Road Construction and Improvement goes into effect
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March
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Lift truck (LA model) launched
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April 1
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Toyopet channel dealers commence operation
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April
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Japan Highway Public Corporation established
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May
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Toyopet Truck (RK23) launched
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May
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Toyopet Route Truck (RK52) launched
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June
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Provisional Act for the Promotion of Machinery Industry goes into effect
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June
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Brazil passes law to nationalize automobile production
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July 18
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Toyoace selected as the model name of the Toyopet Light Truck (SKB) through a public contest
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July
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Economic whitepaper states "The post-war period is now over."
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July
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Land Cruiser and other models exported to Burma as Phase 1 of automobile compensation
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July
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President Nasser of Egypt declares his intention to nationalize Suez Canal Company
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September 22
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Prototype people's car unveiled at Koromo Plant
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September 24
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Operation of the first transfer machine commenced
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September
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Honsha Test Track completed
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October
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Soviet-Japan Joint Declaration signed, restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries
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October
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Suez War breaks out
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December
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UN General Assembly approves Japan's membership
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1957
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January
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PR magazine 'Motor Age' launched;
- Publication discontinued in 1996 after a total of 695 issues |
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February 1
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Manufacturer's suggested retail price system adopted
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February 5
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Toyota Motor Sales establishes Bangkok Sales Office (elevated to a branch office in May)
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February
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Toyota Diesel channel dealers commence operation
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March 14
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DA60 diesel truck launched
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March
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Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) signed
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April
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Crown, etc. exported to Ethiopia for the first time
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April
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Japanese Cabinet decides to promote the purchase of domestically produced vehicles
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April
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Ohta Jidosha Kogyo merges with Nippon Nainenki Seizo, establishing Nippon Jidosha Kogyo Co., Ltd.
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April
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Japanese government promulgates National Development Arterial Express Construction Act
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April
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National Highway Act goes into effect
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May 1
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Department stores commence selling Toyota vehicles (Shirokiya in Tokyo and Daimaru in Kyoto)
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May
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Daihatsu launches the Midget three-wheeled mini-truck
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May 23
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Twenty Crowns loaded on a ship as part of the first full-scale effort to export Japanese-made passenger cars to Okinawa
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May 27
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Chubu Nippon Car-driving School (now Toyota Nagoya Education Center, Inc., Chubu Nippon Driver School) opened
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June
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Fuji Precision Industries launches the Prince Skyline
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July 1
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Toyopet Corona (ST10) launched
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August 25
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Crown samples exported to the U.S.
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August
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DB70 diesel-powered bus launched
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October 31
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Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. established
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October
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Soviet Union successfully launches the Sputnik 1 man-made satellite
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-
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Prolonged recession starts in Japan
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1958
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January 9
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Crown and Land Cruiser exhibited at the Los Angeles Import Automobile Show
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January 23
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Toyota do Brasil S.A. established
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May
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Fuji Heavy Industries launches the Subaru 360 minivehicle
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June 16
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Special order for 4,621 vehicles received from the US Army Procurement Agency (APA) (large order exceeding five billion yen)
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June
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Japan newly institutes minivehicle tax
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July 10
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Operation of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. commenced
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July
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Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) established
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September
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Japan Motor Industrial Federation (JMIF) established
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October
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Toyopet Corona Line (ST16V) launched
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October
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DR10 diesel rear-engine bus launched
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1959
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January 1
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Head Office address changed to 1 Toyota-Cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture based on city name change
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January
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Fuji Precision Industries launches the Prince Gloria
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March 16
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Toyoace (SK20) completely redesigned and launched
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April 22
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Toyopet Route Truck (RK85) launched
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May
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Production at Toyota do Brasil Ltda. commenced
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June 3
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Dyna selected as the model name of the Toyopet Route Truck and Stout as that of the Toyopet Truck
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June
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Hino Diesel Industry is renamed Hino Motors, Ltd.
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June
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Nippon Jidosha Kogyo is renamed Tokyu Kurogane Industry
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June
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Japan Automobile Dealers Association founded
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June
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Metropolitan Expressway partially opens
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July
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Distributor agreement signed with Thiess Sales of Australia
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August 8
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Motomachi Plant commences production of Toyopet Crown
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August
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Nissan launches the Datsun Bluebird (310)
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August
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BMC launches the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor
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September 18 and 19
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Motomachi Plant completion ceremony held
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September
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Isuzu launches the Elf
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September 30
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Investment made in Chiyoda Fire and Marine Insurance (now Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd.)
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September
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Typhoon Vera hits Japan
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September
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Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd. launches the Mitsubishi 500
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December
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Annual traffic fatalities reach 10,000
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-
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Japan enters the economic boom of 1958-1961
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1960
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January
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Japanese Cabinet decides to establish a ministerial meeting to promote trade and foreign exchange liberalization
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April
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Nissan launches the Nissan Cedric
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May
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First foreign car show held in Japan
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May
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Toyo Kogyo launches the Mazda 360 Coupe minivehicle
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June
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Nissan receives the Deming Application Prize for major advances in quality improvement
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June
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New Japan-U.S. Security Treaty goes into effect
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June
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Japan Automobile Sales and Maintenance Council established
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August 4
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Loan agreement for 12 million dollars signed with Export-Import Bank of Washington
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August 15
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Chubu Toyota Lift (now Toyota L&F Chubu Inc.) established as a dealer specializing in industrial vehicles
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August 26
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Head Office building completed
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August 28
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Agreement signed with Planta Reo de Mexico, S.A. on complete knock down (CKD) assembly (complete local production) and sales (export of the first CKD of Japanese passenger cars commenced in December of the same year)
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September
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Nissan establishes Nissan USA
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October
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Toyo Kogyo enters into a technical collaboration agreement with West German company, NSU
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November 9
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Toyota Central R&D Lab, Inc. established
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November
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Daihatsu launches the Hijet four-wheeled mini-truck
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December 13
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Publica selected through a public suggestion process as the model name of an 800-cc car under development for the general populace
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December
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Japanese Cabinet decides on a plan to double the nation's income
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December
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Minsei Diesel Industries, Ltd. is renamed Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. (now UD Trucks Corporation)
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