Overall Chronological Table
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Toyota events
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General events
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Japan
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Overseas
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Worldwide
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1981
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January 16
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Toyota Technological Institute established
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February 27
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Soarer (MZ10) launched
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March
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Ad Hoc Commission on Administrative Reform holds its first meeting
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April
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Voluntary restraints put into place limiting the number of passenger cars exported to the U.S.A. to 1.68 million vehicles a year (kept in place until March 1984)
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May
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GM launches the J-Car
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June 29
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Executive Vice President Shoichiro Toyoda appointed President of Toyota Motor Sales
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June 10
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Advanced Total Overseas Order & Vehicle Management System (ATOMS) implemented
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June
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Voluntary restriction put into place limiting the number of passenger cars exported to Canada
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June
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Isuzu launches the Piazza
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July 7
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1S-type engine completed and the LASRE Campaign commenced
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July
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Daihatsu Automotive Sales merged into Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
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August
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Suzuki, Isuzu, and GM enter a capital alliance agreement
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September 9
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Friendmatic Corolla and Sprinter models added for people with disabilities in both lower limbs
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November 19
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TOCARS of Venezuela starts production at its assembly plant
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November
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Honda launches the City
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1982
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January 8
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Soarer receives the 1981-1982 Car of the Year Japan Award
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January
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Toyo Kogyo establishes Autorama for selling Ford brand cars (sales starts in October 1982)
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February 4
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Toyota Home launches the Oak home
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February 24
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Tokyo Building (now Toyota Head Office Building) completed in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
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March 4
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First Dealer Executive QC Seminar held
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March 24
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Front-wheel drive vehicles, Camry and Vista (SV10) launched
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May 17-18
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First Toyota Industrial Vehicle Distributor World Conference held
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May
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Daihatsu launches the Mira commercial minivehicle
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May 19
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Corolla II (AL20) launched
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May
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Mitsubishi launches the Pajero
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June
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141 major lift truck models significantly improved and orange established as the standard color
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June 18
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Toyota Finance Australia Ltd. Established
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July 1
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Toyota Motor and Toyota Motor Sales merged to form Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC);
- President Eiji Toyoda appointed Chairman, Executive Vice President Shigenobu Yamamoto appointed Vice Chairman, and Toyota Motor Sales President Shoichiro Toyoda appointed TMC President |
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July
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Isuzu Motor Overseas Sales Co., Ltd. established
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July 1
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Logistics Control Division and Customer Relations Division established
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August 30
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Sprinter Carib (AL25G) launched
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August
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Nissan launches the Prairie
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September 1
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Labor unions of Toyota Motor and Toyota Motor Sales merge together
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October 13
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First Informal Dealer Representative Gathering held
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October 1
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Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. establishes Toyota Motor Credit Corporation in Torrance, California
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October
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Nissan launches the March
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October
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Audi NUS launches the 100
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November 8
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Masterace Surf (YR20G) launched
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November 19-22
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First Pan-European Dealership Conference held in Monaco
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November
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Honda starts operation of its Ohio Plant in the U.S.A.
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November 23
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New building of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. completed
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1983
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February 1
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C80 system introduced into dealers
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February 17
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Memorandum signed with GM on joint production
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March
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Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc. (CAPTIN) established in Canada (production commenced in February 1985)
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April 15
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Seihokai and Eihokai merged to establish New Eihokai
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May 7
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Taipei Office established
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June 3-5
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QC seminars held targeting all directors
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June
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Nissan starts operation of its Tennessee Plant in the U.S.A.
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July
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Road Transport Vehicle Act, including a 3-year vehicle inspection cycle, goes into effect
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August 27
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DCM Toyota Ltd. (DLT) established in India jointly with Delhi Cloth & General Mills Co. Ltd. (production commenced in May 1985)
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September 6
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Toyota Home Aspen launched
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October 20
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Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES) established
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October
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Suzuki launches the Cultus
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-
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Dodge Caravan launched
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1984
|
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January
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Hyundai begins exporting the Pony to Canada
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February 21
|
New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), a joint venture with GM, established
|
February
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Nissan launches the Santana produced under a license from Volkswagen
|
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February
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Mitsubishi concludes a technical assistance agreement with Hyundai
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March 19
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Graduate School (Master's program) established at Toyota Technological Institute
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April 3
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Telecommunication Network Committee established
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April 1
|
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. merges with Toyota Industrial Truck, U.S.A.
|
April
|
Voluntary export restraints on passenger cars to the U.S.A. continues (1.85 million vehicles a year)
|
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April 7
|
The Century Leader 1 and Century Highway 1, ships dedicated to transporting large vehicles, enter service
|
April 1
|
San Francisco Office established
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April 23
|
Celica wins the overall title at the Safari Rally (also wins the overall title in 1985 and 1986)
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May
|
Toyo Kogyo renamed Mazda Motor Corporation
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May
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Renault launches the Espace
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June 8
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MR2 (AW11) launched
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August
|
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. starts production of commercial vehicles in China
|
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October 3
|
Corolla FX (AE81) launched
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October
|
Mitsubishi Motor Sales merged into Mitsubishi Motors
|
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October 25
|
Shibetsu Proving Ground (in Hokkaido) completed
|
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November 16
|
Participates in the establishment of Teleway Japan Corporation (TWJ); Toyota Senior Advisor Shohachi Hanai appointed Chairman
|
November 12-19
|
First Distributor World Convention held
|
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December 10
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NUMMI starts producing GM's Chevrolet Nova (launched in June 1985)
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1985
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January 11
|
MR2 receives the 1984-1985 Car of the Year Japan Award
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January
|
GM announces the establishment of a new company for the GM Saturn Project
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January
|
Chevrolet launches the Chevrolet Astro minivan
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February 1
|
Electronics Engineering Division established
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March
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International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan, 1985 (Tsukuba Expo '85) held
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April 30
|
Cumulative export volume reaches 20 million vehicles
|
|
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April
|
Voluntary restriction on passenger car export to the U.S.A. continues (at 2.30 million vehicles a year) (kept through March 1991)
|
|
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April
|
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation privatized
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April
|
Mitsubishi and Chrysler sign an agreement to jointly produce passenger cars in the U.S.A.
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April
|
Japan's MITI asks 60 major companies to expand imports
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May 27
|
Import Expansion Committee established
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June 11
|
Tobishima Center completed as a new export base
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August 3
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Full-scale operation of Flexible Body Line (FBL) commenced
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August 20
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Carina ED (ST160) launched
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August 20
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Corona Coupe (ST160) launched
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September 9
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Twin-cam engine with supercharger installed in the Crown
|
September 1
|
London Office established
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September
|
Honda launches the Today commercial minivehicle
|
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September 13
|
Toyota Home Kodachi launched
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September
|
Conference of Ministers and Governors of the Group of Five Countries (G5) agrees on coordinated foreign exchange intervention to correct the appreciated dollar
|
|
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October 24
|
Production at Ayax in Uruguay commenced
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October
|
Ford launches the Ford Taurus and the Mercury Sabre
|
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October
|
Hyundai launches the Pony Excel
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November 22
|
Training centers opened in Guangzhou and Beijing China to train service personnel
|
November
|
Honda launches the Legend
|
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November
|
Yen continues to appreciate against the dollar, exceeding $1 = 200 yen
|
|
1986
|
|||||
|
January 17
|
Cumulative production volume in Japan reaches 50 million vehicles
|
January 23
|
Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.S.A (TMM) (now Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. [TMMK]) established
|
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|
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January 22
|
New Business Project Committee established
|
January 24
|
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC) established
|
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January 27
|
Production of the Dyna commenced at Kuozui Motors Ltd. (Taiwan)
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|
|
|
February 6
|
Supra (MA70) launched
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February 25
|
Teiho Plant completion ceremony held
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March 19
|
Toyota Home Serrata launched; concurrently Toyota Office and Shop remodeled
|
March 1
|
Canada Office established
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March
|
Honda opens 'Acura dealers', its second sales channel in the U.S.A.
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April 1
|
Challenge 50 Initiative commenced to improve office work efficiency
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April
|
Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Law goes into effect
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May
|
U.S. government proposes automotive parts as an area for Market Oriented Sector Selective (MOSS) talks with Japan
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May
|
Tokyo Summit held
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May
|
Fuji Heavy Industries and Isuzu sign an agreement for joint production in the U.S.A.
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June 30
|
Fengyung Co. Ltd (Taiwan) established
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July 10
|
Toyota Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) launched
|
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July
|
Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. plant starts operation
|
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July 15
|
Toyota Home Elm and Cedar launched
|
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July
|
Austin Rover Group launches the Rover 800, jointly developed with Honda
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|
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August
|
Suzuki and GM agree on establishing a plant in the U.S.A.
|
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September 25
|
Product Planning Group established
|
September 2
|
NUMMI (U.S.A.) starts production of the Corolla FX
|
September
|
Peugeot Citroen launches the AX hatchback for the general populace
|
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October 13
|
Committee for urgent measures to yen appreciation established
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October
|
Nissan launches the Exa
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November
|
Participates in the establishment of International Digital Communications Planning Inc. (IDC)
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November
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Fiat announces its acquisition of Alfa Romeo
|
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December 9
|
200 billion yen convertible debenture issued
|
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December
|
Daihatsu launches the Leeza commercial minivehicle
|
|
1987
|
|||||
|
January 30
|
International Training Building (for training and housing trainees from overseas) completed inside Nisshin Training Center
|
|
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January
|
Yen continues to appreciate against the U.S. dollar, exceeding 150 yen to the dollar
|
|
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January
|
Nissan launches the Be-1
|
||
|
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January
|
Fuji Heavy Industries launches the world's first vehicle equipped with Electro Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT)
|
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February 1
|
AP Creation Division established to develop and ensure quality of accessories and spare parts
|
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February 3
|
Video conferencing system introduced between Honsha and Tokyo Branch Office
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|
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March 9
|
Participates in the establishment of IDO Corporation
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March
|
Honda establishes Honda North America Inc. as its North American headquarters
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April 8
|
Toyota Nursing College opened
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April
|
Japan National Railways privatized
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April 16
|
Investment made in Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., a company specializing in photoelectronics
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April
|
Honda launches the Prelude 4WS
|
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April 21
|
Kasugai Housing Works starts operation
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April
|
Voluntary restriction on passenger car export to the U.S.A. continues (at 2.30 million vehicles a year)
|
|
May 11
|
Toyota Home Apartment, a housing complex, launched
|
May 22
|
Results of joint Japan-China research on the promotion of the automotive industry submitted to the State Council of the People's Republic of China
|
May
|
Foreign exchange law violation occurs in the U.S.A. involving Japanese-made machine tools
|
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May 31
|
Cumulative number of Toyota Homes sold reaches 10,000
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June 12
|
Joint venture agreement for establishment of Siam Toyota Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (STM), an engine production company, signed
|
|
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June 23
|
Memorandum signed with Volkswagen on joint production of the Hilux in West Germany
|
|
|
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July 29
|
U.S. currency-denominated bonds issued with warrants, totaling 800 million U.S. dollars
|
July
|
Nissan announces establishment of 'Infiniti', its second U.S.A. sales network
|
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July 30
|
AMI-Toyota of Australia announces takeover bid of York Motors stock
|
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|
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August 3
|
Toyota Motor Finance (Netherlands) B.V. established in the Netherlands
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August
|
Japan and the U.S.A. settle the MOSS talks on automotive parts
|
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|
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August 24
|
Establishment of 'Lexus' announced as second sales channel in the U.S.A.
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September 3
|
Toyota Memorial Hospital completed
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September 9
|
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA Technical Center completed
|
|
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September 18
|
Supra wins the championship at the Third Hong Kong-Beijing Rally
|
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October 5
|
Customization subcontracted to ASC of the U.S.A., and Celica Convertible (ST162C) launched
|
October
|
New York stock market in the U.S.A. plummets (Black Monday)
|
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December
|
Basic memorandum signed with GM on establishing a joint venture in Australia
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1988
|
|||||
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January
|
Nissan launches Cima, a full-sized luxury car
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March
|
Seikan Tunnel opened in Japan
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April
|
Seto Long Bridge opened in Japan
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May 22
|
Oak FORET line of high-end Western homes launched
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May 9
|
UAAI (Australia) established as a joint venture with GM (joint venture dissolved in 1996)
|
May
|
Japan's first methanol-powered vehicle developed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government put into service for garbage collection
|
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May 26
|
Completion of Shibetsu Proving Ground First Testing Circuit announced
|
May 26
|
Line-off ceremony conducted for quality-confirmed vehicle at TMM (now TMMK)
|
|
|
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August
|
Collaboration with Motorola Mobility in developing Automotive ICs announced
|
August 4
|
Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP), a joint venture company, established
|
August 8
|
Japan Digital Road Map Association established
|
|
|
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August 23
|
Corolla FX units produced by NUMMI exported to Taiwan by TMS (U.S.);
- Camry units produced by TMM (U.S.) and Corolla units produced by NUMMI exported to Taiwan on December 21 |
August
|
Ceasefire in Iran-Iraq War
|
|
September 14
|
Domestic vehicle production tops 60 million units
|
September 17
|
Unveiling ceremony conducted by Kuozui Motors Ltd. (Taiwan) and Fengyung Corporation for start of Toyota business
|
September
|
Decision made to list Ford shares on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
|
|
October 30
|
Sakichi Toyoda Memorial House opened
|
October 3
|
Ceremony held for establishment of Toyota Visiting Professorship fund at the University of Michigan in the U.S.
|
October
|
Memorandum of Understanding Brand-to-Brand Complementation (BBC) signed at ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting
|
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|
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October 6
|
Opening ceremony held at TMM
|
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October 27
|
Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), an industrial vehicle production joint venture established in the U.S.
|
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November 30
|
Toyota Finance Corporation established
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November 30
|
Line-off ceremony for first vehicle held at TMMC (Canada)
|
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|
|
|
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December 6
|
TMF (UK) PLC, a financing company in the U.K., established
|
December
|
Traffic accident fatalities in Japan increase by 1,000 to surpass 10,000
|
|
1989
|
|||||
|
January
|
CS Improvement Committee established
|
January 10
|
Line-off ceremony held for first jointly-produced small truck at Volkswagen Hannover plant
|
January
|
Showa Emperor dies; Heisei era begins
|
|
|
|
January
|
P.T. Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) established in Indonesia as a joint venture of four TMC-affiliates
|
January
|
Announcement made by Japan's MITI that voluntary export restraints on passenger cars exported to the U.S. will remain at 2.3 million vehicles in 1989
|
|
|
|
|
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January
|
Fuji Heavy Industries launches Legacy Touring Wagon
|
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February 1
|
Car facsimile launched
|
February 9
|
1 million dollars donated to University of Kentucky in the U.S.
|
February
|
Subsidies for purchase of low-emission trucks introduced by Yokohama City (decision by Osaka City to introduce subsidies made on 22nd)
|
|
March 29
|
Completion ceremony held at Hirose Plant (electronic components plant)
|
March 3
|
Opening ceremony held at TMP (Philippines)
|
|
|
|
April 11
|
Internally-developed CAD/CAM system sold on market
|
April 26
|
Decision made to produce trucks at NUMMI (U.S.)
|
April
|
Consumption tax (3%) introduced in Japan
|
|
April 16
|
Toyota Automobile Museum opened
|
April
|
Technical support agreement and die and equipment sale agreement with Shenyang Jin Bei Automotive Co. for Hiace body production announced
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 22
|
Ceremony marking export of engines from TAM (Indonesia) to Malaysia conducted
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 29
|
Hotai Motor Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) launches Corona
|
|
|
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|
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June 1
|
Toyota Motor Marketing Europe S.A/N.V. established in Belgium
|
June
|
Tiananmen Square incident in China
|
|
July
|
Toyota Group Pavilion exhibited at World Design Exposition (July 15 -November 26)
|
|
|
|
|
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August 30
|
Operations of Tochigi Housing Works commenced
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 27
|
Vehicle warrantee system revised
|
September
|
Sales of LS 400 and ES 250 started by Lexus dealers in the U.S.
|
September
|
Mazda launches Eunos Roadster
|
|
|
|
September
|
Toyota Europe Office of Creation (EPOC) opened in Belgium
|
|
|
|
October 2
|
New logo for Toyota vehicles announced
|
October 10
|
Full-scale production of catalytic converters started by TABC (U.S.)
|
|
|
|
October 9
|
Celsior (model UCF11) launched
|
|
|
|
|
|
October 30
|
International Cooperation Program announced;
|
|
|
|
|
|
October
|
Global imports in 1992 to be increased to 2.5 times the 1988 level
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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November 21
|
Ground-breaking ceremony held for new test building and administrative building at Toyota Technical Center U.S.A.
|
November
|
Berlin Wall comes down
|
|
|
|
November 29
|
Line-off ceremony for engines conducted at TMM powertrain plant
|
November
|
Traffic accident emergency announced by government Traffic Countermeasures Bureau in Japan
|
|
December 13
|
Increased use of American semiconductors announced as a part of the International Cooperation Program
|
December 4
|
Expansion of Calty Design Research, Inc. announced
|
|
|
|
December
|
Corporate Citizenship Activity Committee established
|
December
|
TMUK established in the U.K.; Operations commenced in December 1992
|
|
|
|
1990
|
|||||
|
|
|
January 11
|
Basic memorandum concerning investment in Toyota GB signed to reinforce sales structures in the U.K.
|
January
|
Decision made by Japan's MITI to maintain voluntary export restraints on passenger cars to the U.S. at 2.3 million vehicles in 1990
|
|
February 15
|
Completion of world's first DSP sound field creating car audio system announced
|
February 19
|
Toyota Credit Canada Inc., a financing company, established in Canada
|
February
|
Full-scale alliance established by Renault and Volvo
|
|
March 8
|
Sera (model EXY10) launched
|
March 27
|
Submission of application for establishment of automobile manufacturing business to Turkish government announced (joint venture by TMC, Sabanci Holding, and Mitsui & Co., Ltd.)
|
March
|
Request made from Japan's MITI to domestic automakers that are expanding to the U.S. to increase local parts procurement rates to about 75% by 1992.
|
|
March 26
|
Development of Toyota Flexible System, a press production system optimized for small lot production of a wide range of parts announced
|
|
|
|
|
|
April 1
|
Educational Foundation Toyota Nagoya Institute established
|
April
|
Operations commenced at TIEM (U.S.), a lift truck production company
|
April
|
The International Garden and Greenery Exposition, Osaka, Japan, 1990 opened
|
|
May 17
|
Tokyo Design Center opened
|
May 29
|
Companies established in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore to reinforce mutual parts supply structures in ASEAN
|
May
|
Clean Air Act with a framework for tighter emissions standards passed by U.S. House of Representatives
|
|
May 30
|
Estima (models TCR11W and 21W) launched
|
|
|
|
|
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May 31
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Van-type electric vehicle production agreement with Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. announced (finished vehicle delivered at the end of January 1991)
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June
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Investment made in Indus Motor Company Limited (IMC), Pakistan
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June
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Agreement reached at MOSS Conference on automotive parts concerning periodic verification of U.S. product purchasing performance by Japanese manufacturers
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July 24
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Former Vice Chairman Tsutomu Oshima passes away
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July
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Technical support to overseas technical school started
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July
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GM launches Saturn strategic small cars
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August
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Military control of Kuwait achieved by Iraqi army
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September 13
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Internal email system introduced
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September 5
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Cooperation provided on establishment of Technical Training Center of Toyota Jin Bei of China Automotive Industry
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September
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Daimler-Benz shares listed on Foreign Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
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September 25
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Toyota Auto Salon AMLUX TOKYO opened
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September
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Articles of Incorporation amended to include ship and aircraft manufacture and sales in business purposes
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October 27
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Ceremony held to mark completion of the reconstruction of Sakichi Toyoda's birth home
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October 1
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N.V. Toyota Motor Marketing Services Europe S.A. (TMSE) (now N.V. Toyota Motor Europe Marketing & Engineering S.A. [TMME]) established in Belgium (integration of local affiliate and European Representative Office)
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October
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East and West Germany unified
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October 29-31
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First North American Import Suppliers' Meeting held (Approx. 200 representatives from 53 parts manufacturers in North America participate)
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October 29
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Toyota donates 2 million dollars to Harvard University (Aid in establishing Reischauer professorship)
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October
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Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. renamed Suzuki Motor Corporation
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November 14
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Number certification acquired by Toyota for RaRa II solar car
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November
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Coronation of Emperor in Japan
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November 20
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G-MAP, a position information system that uses GPS, launched
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