Toyota Motor Corp

Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer with its headquarters located in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. Founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, the company was incorporated on August 28, 1937. It has established itself as the largest automobile manufacturer globally, producing approximately 10 million vehicles annually.

Toyota originated as a spinoff from Toyota Industries, a machine manufacturer initiated by Sakichi Toyoda, who is the father of Kiichiro. Both entities are now part of the Toyota Group, recognized as one of the largest conglomerates worldwide. As still a department of Toyota Industries, the company developed its first product, the Type A engine, in 1934, followed by its inaugural passenger car, the Toyota AA, in 1936.

Following World War II, Toyota capitalized on Japan's alliance with the United States in order to learn from American automotive companies, which led to the establishment of The Toyota Way and the Toyota Production System. These innovations helped transform the small company into an industry leader and sparked numerous academic studies.

In the 1960s, Toyota leveraged the rapidly expanding Japanese economy to target a burgeoning middle class, resulting in the emergence of the Toyota Corolla, which eventually became the world's all-time best-selling automobile. The flourishing economy also supported international expansion, enabling Toyota to rise as one of the largest automakers globally, the largest company in Japan, and the ninth largest worldwide by revenue, as of December 2020. Toyota was the first automobile manufacturer to exceed the production of 10 million vehicles in a single year, achieving this milestone in 2012, while also reporting its 200 millionth vehicle production. Total production reached 300 million vehicles by September 2023.

The company has received accolades for its leadership in developing and selling fuel-efficient hybrid electric vehicles, starting with the launch of the original Toyota Prius in 1997. Presently, Toyota offers over 40 hybrid vehicle models worldwide. Recently, however, it has faced criticism for being slow in adopting all-electric vehicles, rather prioritizing the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles like the Toyota Mirai—a technology that is significantly more expensive and lags in adoption compared to electric batteries.

As of 2024, Toyota Motor Corporation produces vehicles under four brands: Daihatsu, Hino, Lexus, and the Toyota name itself. Additionally, it holds a 20% stake in Subaru Corporation, a 5.1% stake in Mazda, a 4.9% stake in Suzuki, a 4.6% stake in Isuzu, a 3.8% stake in Yamaha Motor Corporation, and a 2.8% stake in Panasonic, along with stakes in automotive manufacturing joint ventures in China, the Czech Republic, India, and the United States.

Toyota's stock is listed on multiple exchanges, including the London Stock Exchange, Nagoya Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, and Tokyo Stock Exchange, where it features as a component of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX Core30 indices.