At the beginning of 2012, TMC set 8.58 million vehicles as its global sales plan, a 21% increase from the previous year. For the Toyota Group as a whole, which includes Daihatsu (850,000 vehicles) and Hino Motors, Ltd. (150,000 vehicles), the plan was set at 9.58 million vehicles, a 21% increase from the previous year. Thus, both TMC on an unconsolidated basis and the Toyota Group took on the challenge to deliver more cars than in 2007, the year previous records had been set.

During his New Year's address to the company, President Toyoda expressed his appreciation, saying, "In 2011, facing the hardships and challenges brought about by natural disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and by the hyper-appreciated yen, every single one of our Toyota team members all over the world bravely took on the challenge." He also pointed out that the fact that TMC was able to overcome the series of hardships it faced, beginning with the global financial crisis starting in 2008, was a testament to Toyota's underlying strength and its spirit of never giving up.

He said that, even in the continuously challenging year of 2011, TMC's implementing the "making ever-better cars" initiative, promoting the move toward "regionally led operations management" that was announced as part of the Toyota Global Vision created that year, and speeding up management processes gave him a definite sense that Toyota was changing. Regarding making ever-better cars, he said, "I ask you all once again to never let the lessons learned from the quality problems fade with time."

Referring to 2012, a noteworthy year marking the 75th year since the company was founded, the 50th year since the Joint Declaration of Labor and Management was made, and the 30th year since the merger of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd., President Toyoda said, "I strongly hope to make this year of critical juncture a year of new beginnings for Toyota." In closing, he described the branches of the trees lining the road approaching the Grand Shrine at Ise and how they have grown sinuously, seeking the little light that comes through. Still, he said, these trees were able to withstand even Typhoon Vera. He went on to express his determination, saying, "Toyota is currently facing an extremely challenging situation, but I think we are beginning to see signs of the light coming through the trees. This year, let's take steps toward this light and capture it with our own hands."