The "Era of the Family Car" started in 1966. It was in November of that year that the first Corolla — aimed at the Japanese general public — rolled onto the market to much fanfare. In the 40 years since, the Corolla has continued to evolve thanks to a philosophy of "always staying ahead of the times."
Today, with a total production of 30 million vehicles and sales in more than 140 countries and regions, the Toyota Corolla has earned its title as the "Global Standard Vehicle of the 21st Century."
The birth of a worldwide Corolla was made possible thanks to innovative thinking, technology and managerial decision-making that went on behind the scenes at Toyota Motor Corporation. All of these comprise the evolving elements of the "Corolla DNA," which has been passed down from generation to generation within the Toyota Motor Corporation.
Let's look back at the original concepts that were calculated to make the first Corolla a success.