WHEN we think of Toyota cars, reliability, long-lasting and budget-friendly quickly comes to mind. The brand has proven itself to be capable of lasting longer than expected, from its old models to the very latest ones.
It might seem like something that can easily be attained by any car manufacturer, but even some of the big names cannot come closer to Toyota’s reliability. But was it always like this? No.
Toyota started off as a weaving company called Toyoda Spinning and Weaving Company in 1918, when Sakichi Toyoda invented the world’s first automatic loom.
The loom impressed a British company, the Platt Brothers, so much that in 1929 they bought the production and sales rights.
Sakichi gave the money to his son, Kiichiro Toyoda, to develop automotive technology at Toyoda.
Kiichiro travelled to Europe and the United States to research on automobile production and gasoline-powered engines, that is why the early models had a resemblance to to the USA models such as the Dodge Power Wagon and the 1930s Chevrolet.
Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was encouraged to develop automobile production by the Japanese government, which needed domestic vehicle production, due to the war with China.
This led to the launch of the company’s first ever passenger vehicle, the Model AA in 1936 and then in 1937, the Toyota Motor Company was born.
- From thread to throttle
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Production of vehicles outside of Japan started in 1959 in Brazil and then spread across the world.
Toyota began rapid expansion and increased exports, which later gained a global foothold in around the 1960s to 70s.
1989 was brought the launch of Lexus, Toyota’s luxury vehicle division, more exclusive and more refined.
Toyota launched the Prius in 1997, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid-powered vehicle, which cements its reputation in the automotive technology and sustainability race.
From that period up to now, Toyota has been developing its models from the cheapest Yaris to the most expensive trucks and suvs.
The Toyota lineup is inclusive, offering cars for every needs, from cheap cars, sport cars, suvs, trucks and vans.
Whilst offering a wide range of vehicles, reliability remains its main target.
In Zimbabwe, many people buy Toyota vehicles because of their fuel economy and reliability. Together with the hybrid system which is now available on most of Toyota's models, the fuel efficiency has improved.
Today, Toyota is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers known globally for its quality, durability, reliability and influential manufacturing principles.
