The clichés that marketers painstakingly put into our heads to boost sales of their products are quite varied. Everyone knows that BMW cars are the most manageable, Mercedes-Benz is comfortable, Volvo is safe, and Toyota is reliable. For example Japanese brand Let's check if this is really the case, as they want to assure us.
Recently, the AvtoVzglyad portal published material on the most dangerous on the Russian market, based on data from recall campaigns conducted recently by manufacturers. Representatives of Toyota did not agree that their car was among the "winners" and sent an official refutation of the journalistic "fabrics" to the editor, which we present without cuts.
“On behalf of the company, we would like to point out the incorrect use of terms and misrepresentation of facts in relation to the conduct of Toyota. First of all, we draw the attention of the author and readers to the fact that service campaigns are of a preventive nature. Toyota is giving Special attention the quality of the cars produced. After the sale, the company constantly evaluates how the cars behave during the period of operation. From time to time, there may be a possibility that certain components or characteristics of vehicles may not correspond to the established technical regulations. In such cases, Toyota openly announces a service campaign and diagnoses and repairs customers' cars free of charge.
Secondly, we would like to point out that on 6576 vehicles equipped with a 2.0 liter engine, there is a possibility that if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released at a certain frequency, the exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGR1) may not close entirely due to incorrect software engine control unit, as a result of which exhaust gases can constantly circulate in the EGR system, which can lead to precarious work engine idling and only in extremely rare cases to stop the engine while driving. Not a single case related to the situation described above has been recorded in Russia.”
Well, let's not argue with the opinion of the specialists of the Japanese company, although there are no examples of "incorrect use of terms and distortion of facts regarding service campaigns we did not find in this text. Moreover, we agree in principle that such promotions are used mostly as an informational occasion - so that the brand is not forgotten. However, in some cases, genuine concern for the client may well be the driving motive. What, by the way, was also written by the AvtoVzglyad portal.
However, regarding the issue of the legendary reliability of Toyota cars, let us doubt that it is head and shoulders above all other brands. To begin with, let's refer to the results of studies conducted by the analytical agency. According to him, as of the beginning of 2016, there were 40,850,000 cars in Russia, of which cars of foreign brands occupied a little more than half, or rather, 58%. At the same time, during this year, our fellow citizens and guests of the country purchased components for their "iron horses" with foreign pedigree and for 834.2 billion rubles. The undisputed leader in sales of spare parts for passenger cars belongs to Toyota, which accounted for a sixth of the total purchases. Toyota owners spent 134.3 billion rubles on parts for their cars!
At first glance, it may seem that this is a verdict on the reliability of the products of a Japanese company. Moreover, it is final and not subject to appeal. However, her affairs are still not so bad. The fact is that 3,544,099 Toyota cars run across the expanses of our Motherland, which corresponds to 15% of all “foreign cars” that have taken root here. Spare parts for them were sold in the amount of 16.1% of the total number of sold parts for cars of foreign brands. And yet, a comparison of the last two values does not confirm the amazing reliability of Toyota.
On the contrary, they are more reminiscent of the average temperature in the hospital, and with a bias towards a little more “breakability” than in the ordinary case. But let's not run ahead of the steam locomotive and see what other leaders of the Russian fleet show us. Toyota is followed by another in terms of total number of cars sold. Japanese company- . It accounts for 8% of the market and 8.5% of money spent on spare parts. The proportion is about the same, but slightly more in favor of Nissan. They are followed by Korean with 6.6% and 6.1% respectively. Further - French (5.9% and 5.6%) and German (5.7 and 5.5).
Many well-known companies specializing in the production of cars today did not start with them at all, but with completely different products. Among them is the largest automotive company Toyota.
The history of the brand goes back almost a century and a half, when a businessman, and at the same time an inventor and an engineer, Sakichi Toyoda created a company named after himself - Toyoda Enterprise. True, it would be wrong to assume that this was an ordinary inventor, of which there are many in any country. Contemporaries called Sakichi the Japanese Thomas Edison and even "the king of Japanese inventors."
The future inventor was born in the family of a poor carpenter on February 14, 1867. It was a period when Japan was going through a very difficult period of modernization, when it had to painfully move from medieval feudalism to the world of hard European capitalism with all its specifics.
As a result, Sakichi Toyoda, who grew up in a poor and small village located in Shizuoka Prefecture, managed to learn firsthand how hard the life of a Japanese peasant of that period was. His mother was engaged in weaving and, having seen enough of her hard work, the young man decided to invent a loom, which had a rather unusual design. I must say that it was this invention that became the basis for the prosperity of the Toyoda family.
Sakichi did not become content with what he had achieved, continuously improving the design of his machines, as well as other weaving mechanisms. As a result, he became interested in his developments British firm Platt Brother & Co., which at that time was the largest textile manufactory in the world. The British convinced Sakichi to sell them the patent rights to the machine, and in order to sign the contract and "settle" other formalities, Sakichi's son - Kiichiro - went through the United States to Great Britain.
Kiichiro clearly followed his father and realized that, despite the fact that industrialization ruled the ball in the most developed part of the world (and these were the 30s of the 20th century), Japan continued to be a predominantly agrarian country. Being ambitious and active, Kiichiro Toyoda decided to change this unenviable state of the country. Like many other young people of that era, he admired cars and took full advantage of the chance to get acquainted with the car industry of developed countries, which he visited during his "business trip".
As a result, when he returned to his native land, Kiichiro decided to say goodbye to the looms that provided his father's family with a name and financial well-being, and connect his future only with cars.
From machine to car
Kiichiro understood that it was not enough to decide to go into the automotive industry alone: first he had to convince his father of this. However, he did not meet any opposition from him. Moreover, the father supported his son in his decision to try himself in this unusual business for Japan and provided his son with support.
Kiichiro enthusiastically took on the new task and began to develop his first car, or rather, the prototype of the future A1 four-door sedan. It was started in 1936, and the car was ready in just six months.
Given that Kiichiro had never dealt with cars before, such a pace of work can be called supersonic. True, this speed can also be explained by the fact that the A1 consisted of a set of standard solutions that the sly Kiichiro spied on European and, mainly, American brands.
For example, the chassis design, as well as the 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine and gearbox, were basically "borrowed" from Chevrolet, and the body of its first car turned out to be a copy of the Chrysler Airflow, which was slightly reduced in size. This was understandable, because besides the fact that Kiichiro did not have the proper experience in this area, this aerodynamic sedan was quite progressive by the standards of the 30s. In order to be able to thoroughly understand its device, Kiichiro specially ordered one copy from the United States, giving it "to be torn apart" by his inquisitive engineers. In addition, the design of the Chrysler Airflow was so relevant that the prudent Japanese decided not to risk it and leave everything as it is. Although some changes have been made. In addition to the fact that the scale was somewhat reduced, the headlights also changed: on the Chrysler Airflow they were integrated into the front fenders, while on the "Japanese" they were placed in the old style - on top of the wings.
The number of A1 prototypes was three, and one of them was even consecrated according to all Buddhist traditions. What is interesting is that the first trip in this car was made by Kiichiro to the grave of his father, who passed away shortly before. So, the prototype was created, and a year later, the AA model, almost indistinguishable from the A1, went into production.
Production was established in the town of Koromo, where a completely new plant was built. It is worth saying that today this settlement, as well as its surroundings, is called the big name Toyota City. At first, the machines were sold under the same name under which the looms were produced - Toyoda. However, this option did not suit the ambitious Kiichiro, since in Japanese “toyoda” is “fertile rice field”. Such an agricultural name was not very suitable for cars, and Kiichiro decided to find a new name for his brand, for which a competition was announced. In total, more than 20 thousand different applications were submitted, among which the family chose exactly the option that is known to almost everyone today - Toyota. This name no longer contained allusions to agricultural activity, sounded good in any language, was easy to remember and, which is very important, indicated family continuity.
Officially company Toyota Motor Corporation was registered as subsidiary Toyota Enterprise. It happened on August 28, 1937 - shortly before the start of World War II.
Already in November, production began at the plant mentioned above, and it was then that the brand was born, which became one of the most famous cars in the world.
Late start and second attempt
Despite the fact that the beginning of the first Japanese automobile brand was quite successful, it turned out to be untimely. The Second World War began, and it did not work out as it should. By 1943, the company was able to produce only 1,404 AA sedans. In addition to them, 353 convertibles were sold, created on the basis of the AB convertible and 115 AC sedans, which were almost no different from AA, except for a more powerful engine. In a word, there was not much progress.
But at the same time, it is worth considering the fact that during the war the company worked mainly for the army, producing not only military trucks, but also light reconnaissance all-terrain vehicles, amphibians, and even individual components for the needs of military aviation. In general, despite the weak progress in the production of cars for the population, the enterprise worked, and worked very intensively, acquiring new experience. In addition, during the war, despite regular air raids, the company's plant suffered almost no losses. And yet, by the autumn of 1945, the members of the company had no special reasons for joy. But the Japanese, brought up in the spirit of Zen Buddhism, look at deprivation from a slightly different angle, so instead of complaining about life, the employees undertook to rebuild their power anew. Military products were rapidly re-profiled for peaceful needs, and grain crops began to be grown in the surrounding territories. For some time, various tools and pans were even assembled from aircraft components in the company's workshops.
The conversion was quite successful, but Kiichiro did not forget about his main goal - the production of cars and the development of new models. And already in October 1945, when Japan surrendered just a month, the company's engineers began to develop a new model. It is quite natural that in the light of the difficult economic situation in the country, it was necessary to create the cheapest and most unpretentious car possible. And soon a prototype of the first post-war Toyota was created - two-door sedan SA completed four-cylinder engine volume of 1 liter. Outwardly, this car was very similar to the Volkswagen Type I, well known as the "Beetle". And the matter was not limited to external differences alone - the similarity was also visible in spinal frame, which was used in Japanese production for the first time.
However, despite all the similarities, Toyota SA (received the affectionate nickname "Toyota baby" - Toyopet) was an independent development of the company's engineers. This is indicated at least by the fact that instead of the rear engine, the classic layout of the model was used.
In October 1947, small-scale production of Toyota SA began and we can say that the beginning was successful: several serial Toyota models were produced on the basis of SA, and the “baby” itself became a kind of pass for the company to the elite automotive world. If hitherto Toyota, like other Japanese car manufacturers, counted on a not too rich and extensive Japanese market, now there has been a turn towards a brighter future. Then few people could believe it, because outside of Japan, the concept of "Japanese car" was perceived in much the same way as the "Ethiopian skater", but Kiichiro believed in the success of his business, not looking back at the stamps.
Success time
Nowadays, the word "Japanese" is a blue word for "quality" and this applies to cars too. And it became possible to a large extent thanks to Toyota. After all, it was this company that once started a real war to improve production efficiency and product quality. True, the Just-in-Time method, according to which the components for assembly were not stored in a warehouse, but were brought directly to the conveyor, were planned by Kiichiro Toyoda at the initial stage, when the Koromo plant was just being built.
Since production volumes were still very modest in the thirties, there was no need for such innovations. And in the post-war period, when production began to gain momentum, accelerated production methods were again remembered.
Of course, there was nothing revolutionary in these developments, since the "father of the car" Henry Ford began to deliver components directly to the assembly site, having done this almost half a century earlier than Kiichiro Toyoda - in the 10-20s of the 20th century. But what the Japanese were famous for was their ability to bring everything to perfection, which was achieved at Toyota factories. However, the company did not stop at this means of increasing production efficiency and reducing costs. The next step was a simple but very effective method that came from the textile past of Kiichiro and his father. This experience deserves special mention.
Taichi Ohno, who in the early 1950s was the manager of the final machine assembly shop at that very first factory, once recalled such a feature of spinning machines as self-switching off when a thread breaks accidentally. This ability made it possible to significantly reduce the amount of defective tissue. True, the automobile conveyor of those years did not look much like a loom and was only partially automated: most of the work had to be done manually.
However, Taichi Ohno did not stop this, and he managed to adapt this "idea from the textile past" to the automotive industry. The new principle was named “Jidoka”, which could be translated from Japanese into Russian as “automation with a human appearance”. The essence of "jidoka" was the increased responsibility of each employee of the plant. If a worker caught sight of a defective part or an incorrectly installed component, it was his duty to pull the “andon” (the so-called special cord) and thereby stop the conveyor. As a result, defective parts could be identified and eliminated at an early stage of production, spending a minimum of time and money on this.
The combination of Taichi Ono's "jidoki" invention, Ford's delivery of components directly to the assembly line, and the constant introduction of rationalization proposals from the company's employees, which has become almost the hallmark of the company, explains why product quality has increased incredibly in a very short time, becoming a model of the quality of Japanese goods.
Expansion
The ascent of the company to the heights can hardly be called stepwise. As a rule, the ascent to the next step was planned even when the previous one had not been conquered. This happened in the case of the expansion of the company, the need for which was realized even when Toyota quality was still in its infancy. It was at that time that it became clear that in order to be on a par with the leaders of the world automotive industry, one quality is not enough - you also need to master the markets of other countries. It was a rather risky move, but if successful, the result could be stunning.
As a result, in 1957 year Toyota became the first Japanese firm to venture into such a gamble as opening a branch in America. But they decided not to drive right off the bat, and therefore, at first, three "scouts" were sent to Los Angeles, whose task was to study the local automotive market. Apparently, the "landing" was successful and just a couple of months later - on October 31, 1957 - Toyota Motor Sales was founded.
The first models offered by Toyota for export were off-road vehicle Cruiser BJ and Crown sedan.
However, with overclocking, it was not possible to achieve much success in the American market. In the first six months of product sales, only 288 cars were sold. The "Toyota" product failed to impress Americans with its prestige (which has not yet been won), nor its dynamics, nor its design. We must not forget the long-standing hostility of the Americans towards the Japanese, which remotely resembled those "warm" feelings that the peoples of the USSR had for the Germans. However, Toyota did not try to break through the wall with its forehead, trying to keep up with the trends of the late fifties. Instead, the company's management decided to wait in the wings, and this decision was not wrong.
At that time, in the US automotive market, the ball was ruled by the huge size of the car, which someone correctly called automastodons. However, the fashion for such Detroit-style monsters suddenly ended, and then the unpretentious and reliable Toyota got a chance to break through to the heights. But one fashion was not enough, and only led to a real breakthrough fuel crisis the end of the 70s, which radically changed the automotive preferences of Americans. It was then that the main requirements that the residents of the United States made were accessibility, reliability and economy.
The Americans did not wait for Detroit to be able to respond to new trends, but unexpectedly they discovered that Toyota already has long been producing economical, inexpensive and extremely quality products. For example, the following indicators can be cited: in the 66th year, the Corona sedan became the first model of the brand in the American market, the circulation of which exceeded 10,000 copies per year. Already by 1972, the total Toyota sales in America reached a million cars, and after another three years the company managed to become the most popular brand in the United States, displacing Volkswagen from this place.
After the conquest of the United States, expansion began to South America, Europe, Australia, and then to Russia. New assembly plants opened around the world, the brand new luxury brand Lexus was born, and by the end of 2010, Toyota became largest automaker in the world.
Top 10 Toyota vehicles ever
Land Cruiser BJ20 (1955)
The progenitor of this car was the Wyllis MB pre-production prototype, the Bantam BT-40. However, there is nothing surprising in this, since the Willys was generally the first jeep in history. At the very beginning of World War II, Japanese troops who captured American trophies in the Philippines found among them this all-terrain vehicle, which was intended for reconnaissance. The car was immediately handed over to Toyota engineers for a thorough study and subsequent copying. As a result, the Toyota AK-10 car appeared, which was, in fact, a “Japanese Willys”.
And after the end of the Second World War, the Americans already ordered a batch of licensed "Willis" BJs from a Japanese company. It was the Americans who subsequently called the result of this order the "land cruiser". However, if at first it was a copy of an American jeep with Japanese components and an engine, then its subsequent version, called the Land Cruiser BJ20, already had its own civilian body. And, probably, it was with him that the history of the "Toyota" Land Cruiser began.
Corona T30 (1964)
Externally (and in the cabin too) in this small car there is nothing special. In fact, this is an ordinary compact sedan, of which there were quite a few in the mid-60s. In terms of size, the car almost did not differ from the domestic Zhiguli, and the dynamics were also not very impressive (100 km / h gained as much as 15 seconds). The design, despite the fact that the famous Italian designer Batista Farina participated in its development, was very nondescript. But it was this car that launched Toyota's success in America.
The car was cheap, unpretentious, reliable and at the same time very well equipped. The fact that the Corona was one of the first "compacts" with both air conditioning and an automatic transmission could not but interest buyers.
During the first year, US residents purchased over 20,000 copies of these machines. And all eleven generations of "Crowns" have spread around the world in the amount of about 27 million copies.
2000 GT (1967)
This one is pretty unusual car, one might say, has become a landmark for both Toyota and the entire Japanese automotive industry. This is explained by the fact that it was this high-status sports model that broke a kind of stereotype, according to which the Japanese can produce only high-quality and cheap small cars. Although it is worth noting that during the period of serial production, the “two thousandth” did not gain much fame, having obtained it when the model was completed. One of the reasons for this was the rather high price of the car. True, there was something to pay for: the spectacular design of the rear-wheel drive sports car was driven by a two-liter inline six, developing a capacity of 150 "horses".
It may not be impressive now, but in the late 60s it was pretty solid. In terms of dynamics, the model was on a par with the 911th Porsche and had a top speed of 220 km/h, of which it gained the first hundred in 8.4 seconds. In total, only 337 copies were produced, for any of which now you have to pay a huge amount (350-400 thousand dollars).
Corolla E80 (1983)
This model has become the most popular car in history, and it is simply impossible not to mention it. In total, these machines were produced and sold more than 40 million copies!
The reason for this supernatural popularity is affordable price, multiplied by unpretentiousness and reliability. The best of the ten generations of the model can be considered, according to many, the E80, which debuted in 1983. I must say that it is this version that is the most popular among other Corollas, and it was it that marked the transfer of compact Toyota models to front-wheel drive.
HiLux N40 (1983)
Outside of Russia, this is one of the most popular pickups. This is not surprising, since a colossal number of these mini-trucks have been produced over the past half century. Already the very first Toyota HiLux model, which debuted in 1968, was distinguished by incredible performance and endurance.
With such data, it is quite natural that representatives of various walks of life and professions love this model. And perhaps the only country in which the HiLux N40 remained not too well known is Russia, where the Japanese for some reason did not want to sell this car officially for a long time. Maybe they were afraid of our roads?
MR2 W10 (1984)
Currently, the Mazda MX-5 is deservedly considered the pinnacle of inexpensive but “snooty” sports cars. However, three decades ago, everything was somewhat different: it was then that the Toyota MR2 appeared - a mid-engined coupe of compact size and low cost. Then this car made a real sensation. Such a car was expected from anyone, but not from Toyota. And no one expected such amazing characteristics at all.
In terms of dynamics, it is pointless to compare this model with supercars: the most powerful version of the M-erok had 130 “horses” under the hood and could reach 100 km / h in 8.5 seconds.
In other words, the car was quite frisky, but not a champion. But as for handling, here she deserved only rave reviews from both owners and experts. I must say that one of the reasons for such miraculous handling was the chassis tuning, which was worked on not only by the engineers of Toyota itself, but also by invited specialists from the British Lotus. It is only natural that the handling of this Japanese model is legendary to this day.
Celica T180 (1989)
This model can be attributed to the number of "Toyota" centenarians, but, unfortunately, today the car has been discontinued. This sports car has become the epitome of stylish and affordable sports coupe and won the hearts of thousands of fans around the world who sincerely believe that the company's management will come to their senses and resume the release of the legend. There were seven generations of the model in total, and it is rather difficult to choose the best one from them, since each is good. The first model captivates with its grace and magnificent curve of the rear fenders.
The last rear-wheel drive Celica of the third generation with the A60 body is in no way inferior to it. By the way, it was she who served as the basis for the first rally success of group "B". The seventh generation model (T230) attracts with its dissimilarity to competing cars. But perhaps the most significant is the T180 model with hidden headlights and beautiful body lines. It is worth noting that it was on the Celica T180 that Carlos Sainz won the title of world rally champion twice.
Supra Mk IV (1992)
The Supra has become Toyota's most luxurious and expensive sports car, succeeding the 2000 GT. This continuity can be seen in appearance, as well as in the power component. Improved versions of the 2.0-liter in-line "six" were used by the first three generations of the model.
At the same time, however, the Supra moved further and further away from the relatively affordable sports coupe towards the prestigious two-door Grand Turismo, which may not have been as nimble around corners, but it was luxurious and great for long trips. The result of this "drift" was the Supra Mk IV, characterized by comfort, power and beauty.
RAV4 XA10 (1994)
This car became conditionally the first "SUV" in the world. The abbreviation RAV can, with some stretch, be translated into Russian as " all-wheel drive vehicle for active rest". True, honestly, calling this model the first "SUV" in the world will not work: there are other contenders for this honorary title.
It was the RAV, which was first introduced in the 94th year of the last century, that became the impetus that caused a real obsession with SUVs.
And although this nice little "all-terrain vehicle" RAV4 has been and is now devoid of any fantastic characteristics, it was he who managed to demonstrate how important such a feature as timeliness is.
Prius XW10 (1997)
A lot of money was invested in the development of the Prius. This is quite natural, given that it was developed as a car of the new century. Despite all the pathos, the car turned out to be just that, having recouped the investment in excess. It was with this gasoline-electric model that the Japanese company became the leader in the global automotive industry for the production of hybrids. The success turned out to be contagious and everyone joined the hybrid race to one degree or another. the largest producers cars.
Probably, every person in our time wants to use only high-quality things, and cars are no exception. Do you want to buy a car that will serve you as a masterpiece of modern technology, and get untold pleasure from driving it? Actually the question is rhetorical.
So, if you want such a car for yourself, then in this case you need to look at a Toyota Camry car, since this car is exactly what you need. It is worth noting that the Toyota Camry contains all the positive qualities of cars - reliability, safety, as well as quality. This car will allow you to look solid, as well as give self-confidence.
In fact, a Toyota Camry car today is more than a vehicle, because driving this car a person begins to feel like a real and living person who takes everything positive from life.
It is worth paying attention to the comfort that Toyota cars have, because they are magnificent. Excellent external data, comfort, space and many other interesting things for every driver vehicle quality will be pursued if you sit in the salon of this magnificent car. Technical equipment and smoothness of movement are far from the last pleasant moments that serve in favor of a Japanese-made car.
The Toyota Camry is a fairly powerful vehicle, and passengers sitting in the cabin may not notice the speed of movement. It is also unlikely that you will be able to hear any extraneous noise while driving a Toyota Camry car, because manufacturers have taken great care to minimize wind noise and other extraneous sounds due to excellent flow.
Let's take another Toyota car, the Land Cruiser, as an example. This is a car that needs no introduction. For over 60 years, this SUV has been renowned for its technical specifications, super passability, and also amazingly serious design.
Of course, this is a completely different car - this is a huge jeep, although it is not very fast, it accelerates to 100 km per hour in 9 seconds, but its weight is certainly impressive. In general, the Land Cruiser is not a racing jeep, like, namely huge SUV, a tank, one might say.
It is worth noting the car Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. This car is one of a kind.
Petrol 6-cylinder engine with VVT-i system, which can develop 282 horsepower horsepower. This indicator is the best among cars of this class.
Another car that deserves attention is Toyota Avensis. This vehicle has been designed with European market as one of the competitors. It combines high technology, exquisite design, modern style, power, confidence and dynamism.
We are accustomed to the fact that Japanese automakers today are some of the best in the world, to say the least. So, Japanese-made cars most often delight us with their quality, reliability, and comfort than car manufacturers from other countries. It is worth noting that Toyota cars, in addition to all positive qualities still inherent high class superior to other "Japanese".
We will focus on the fact that Toyota cars are especially popular in the Far Eastern regions of Russia. For example, in Vladivostok, Toyota is incredibly popular due to the fact that the city is not so far from the border with Japan, so it’s a sin not to take such a luxurious car for yourself. Of course, there are also others in Vladivostok, but it is Toyota that is the most popular brand, and this is understandable.
In the era of the overall progress of mankind, it is not at all difficult to get acquainted with the prices for cars of this brand, since this can be done on the Web. Naturally, each person can take an interest in Japanese-made cars personally by arriving at a dealership located in their hometown. All the information you need, as well as details and addresses official representatives Every person can find Toyota brands on the Internet, which will give him the opportunity to save personal money.
It is worth paying attention to the optimism, diligence, mutual assistance, as well as the enthusiasm of the Japanese, as the hardworking people managed to quickly restore the consequences of the accident at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, which arose due to a strong earthquake. Today, the production of Toyota cars has been completely restored and is ready to delight with its cars, competing with many!
And this video shows how tenacious the Toyota Corolla is:
In 1933, the company opened an automobile division, headed by the son of the owner of the "holding" - Kiichiro Toyoda.
1936 Toyota AA
Shortly before this, in 1929, Kiichiro Toyoda made trips to Europe and the United States to study the automobile industry. And in 1930, he began to develop cars with a gasoline engine. The Japanese government strongly encouraged such an initiative of a promising company. In 1936, the first-born Toyota appeared - the G1 truck, and a little later the AA sedan and AB phaeton. Not surprisingly, the first Toyota cars resembled cars from overseas brands such as Dodge and Chevrolet. In 1937, the automobile division was transformed into an independent structure - Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. In 1938, the Toyota AE was released. During World War II, the company produced trucks for the Japanese army. Due to severe shortages in Japan at that time, military trucks were made in the most simplified versions. In 1943, guest manager Taichi Ohno introduces an optimization system production process under the motto "Just in time". In 1947, the production of Toyota BM and Toyota SB trucks began, as well as Toyota SA cars, nicknamed "Toyopet" for their compactness.
1957 Toyopet Crown
In 1949, a Japanese company tries its hand at making buses. At the same time, Toyota SD enters the market. In 1950, an independent sales company, Toyota Motor Sales, was established, and a year later it starts selling new products: a passenger car Toyota car SF, the Toyota BX truck and the company's first ever Toyota BJ jeep. In 1952, the founder of the company, Kiichiro Toyoda, dies. And in the history of Toyota, on the contrary, the heyday begins. The image of the company, and of Japanese cars in general, increases significantly in 1955, when the BJ jeep becomes more harmonious Land Cruiser and quite respectable Toyota Crown- the first representative of the land of the rising sun in America. Moreover, the export, which started in 1957, was not limited to the United States, it also affected Brazil. True, the first attempt to export Toyota cars to American market didn't end well. But soon, after correcting the implementation strategy, Toyota corrected this and opened an official representative office in the United States. By the way, this was not the first foreign outpost of Toyota. It all started with a representative office in Thailand, opened in the same 1957. Two years later, production is organized in Brazil Toyota SUVs Land Cruiser, and another Toyota representative office is open in Australia. In 1960, Toyota Motor Co. launches a massive offensive on European markets. In 1961, the Toyota Publica model was released - a small economy car which quickly became popular.
1973 Toyota Publica Starlet
In 1962, Toyota celebrated the release of the one millionth car, cumulatively produced. The sixties were a period of improvement economic situation in Japan, and, as a result, the rapid growth of car sales. The network of Toyota dealers abroad is actively developing - in South Africa, in Europe and Asia. Toyota succeeded in the US market - the Corona model, became widespread and became the most popular Japanese car in the overseas market. The following year, 1966, Toyota releases its "hit" - Toyota Corolla and the ambitious Toyota 2000GT sports coupe. At the same time, the company enters into a business agreement with the reputable Japanese automaker Hino. A year later, Toyota merges with Daihatsu. The result of the joint activity is the commercial Toyota Hiace. A year later, a Toyota Hilux pickup appears. The 70s were marked by a rapid growth in production capacity, which allows by 1972 to reach the figure of 10 million. cars produced since the founding of the company.
To popularize Toyota brand Toyota team Europe is formed in 1975. In 1978, the production of such well-known models as Celica XX, Sprinter, Carina, Tercel begins. It is noteworthy that Tercel became the first front-wheel drive Japanese car. Further overcoming the energy crisis and the resulting financial difficulties, Toyota entered the next decade. In 1982, Toyota Motor and Toyota Motor Sales merged to form Toyota Motor Corporation. The production of the legendary Toyota Camry begins. By this point, Toyota had finally established itself as the largest car manufacturer Japan, which ranks third in the world in terms of production. In 1983, Toyota signs a multi-year cooperation agreement with General Motors, and the following year, production of cars on their basis begins. joint venture in USA. In 1986, the 50 million milestone was reached in terms of the total production of Toyota cars. A striking event of the 80s can be considered the appearance brands Lexus- division of Toyota, created to enter the premium car market. And in 1987, Toyota Motor Corporation begins cooperation with Volkswagen to produce pickup trucks in Germany. 1990 was marked by the opening of its own design center in Tokyo. In 1994, Toyota Motor Corporation introduced the world to its first-generation RAV4 crossover.
1994 Toyota RAV4
In addition, Toyota continues its global expansion. And in new developments, great attention is paid to ecology. That is why in 1997 the world's first production hybrid Toyota Prius was put on the conveyor. The year before, in 1996, Toyota produced its 90 millionth car, and three years later, its 100 millionth. In 2000, Prius sales reached 50,000 worldwide, and a new generation of the RAV4 was launched. By the way, the European design center of the company was opened at the same time. The year 2002 can be distinguished thanks to the cooperation of Toyota Motor Corporation with PSA to create a trinity of minicars: Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and Peugeot107, the opening of Toyota Motor LLC in Russia (marketing and sales) and, of course, in connection with the appearance of the Toyota team in racing Formula 1, which lasted seven years. In 2007, a Toyota plant was built near St. Petersburg, where the seventh generation Toyota Camry has been produced since 2011. In the same 2007, Toyota Motor Corporation first released and sold more cars than General Motors. By the way, GM held the palm of the world championship for 76 years. Today, Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the world's largest car manufacturers, producing about one car every five seconds. In 2012, Toyota celebrated its 75th anniversary with the release of the 200 millionth vehicle.
1936 Toyota AB
1943 Toyota AC
1947 Toyota SA
1951 Toyota BJ
1960 Toyota Land Cruiser 40
1965 Toyota Sports 800
1966 Toyota Corolla
1968 Toyota Hilux
1975 - the emergence of the sports division of Toyota Motorsport GmbH
1982 first generation Toyota Camry
1984 Toyota MR2
1988 - Opening of the Toyota Design Center in Europe
1997 Toyota Prius first generation
1999 Toyota Yaris
2002 - participation of Toyota in Formula 1 races
2009 Toyota Prius third generations
2011 seventh generation Toyota Camry
An article about Toyota cars - how they compare favorably with other brands. Car features Japanese brand. At the end of the article - an interesting video about Toyota cars.
The content of the article:
The automotive giant Toyota is not only a Japanese economic miracle, not only an advanced high-tech developer, but a special world with its deep philosophy, special approach to personnel and thoughtful attitude to each of its creations. That is why their cars are so different from all other world brands.
1. Conservative
The quality of Toyota cars, elevated to the rank of "legendary", is largely due to a certain conservatism of Japanese engineers. It's strange to hear that, given how cutting-edge research the company is doing. Nevertheless, it is technical innovations that Toyota uses almost later than all other automakers. So it was, for example, with an aluminum cylinder block, on which engineers all over the world rushed to replace heavy cast iron ones. And Toyota specialists preliminarily weighed all the pros and cons:
- the engine becomes 30 kg lighter;
- fundamentally the total weight of the car aluminum block does not reduce;
- certain operational nuances appear, such as more severe overheating block compared to cast iron.
A similar situation is with the vacuum sensor, which is responsible for the air flow in the motor control system. Unlike such common air flow sensors, they are almost anachronistic, but they almost never fail over the entire period of vehicle operation.
2. Suppliers
Attributing the incredible reliability of cars only due to the skill of Japanese engineers will not work. Models oriented to the European market are not produced in China, but in other countries, including Russia. However, Toyota knows how to select its suppliers of those Supplies that it does not produce itself. For example, all electronic stuffing it acquires from Nippon Denso. Founded in 1949, this company has become a world leader in electrical and electronics, air conditioning and radiators, heaters and communications. At the moment, it has about 70 production facilities in 22 countries, supplying assembly shops the necessary components.
innovative car candles Nippon Denso, which has the world's thinnest iridium electron at 0.4 millimeters, provides such a reserve of power that guarantees stable ignition in any, most extreme conditions. And Nippon Denso's U-shaped groove design ensures improved ignition and absolute combustion of the fuel, significantly increasing the efficiency of the car.
Only the resistors present in Nippon Denso spark plugs reduce not only car radio interference, but also prevent their influence on the navigator, fuel control systems and ABS.
All this together increases the overall reliability of Toyota vehicles, especially in comparison with Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, which use spare parts from the same Mitsubishi and Hitachi.
The same can be said about the wonderful "indestructible" automatic boxes purchased from Aisin Warner. Two Japanese corporations have been cooperating for more than a decade, together tirelessly improving the quality of cars produced. Aisin is a large machine building enterprise, which is a member of the "Big Three" of the world's manufacturers of automatic transmissions. Its products have proven themselves since the 80s, when Japanese auto industry flooded into our country. Moreover, those car owners who still drive the models purchased at that time assure that the gearbox is still functioning perfectly.
Of course, nothing is eternal, but in this case we are talking on the extent of the repair. In the context of automatic transmissions on Toyota cars, simple, strong and durable, the scale of repair work is not comparable to the daunting replacement of electronic components in other car brands with more “fancy” boxes. The reason for this phenomenon is simple - there is nothing to break in the simple design of Aisin transmissions. And those minor problems that sometimes arise are mostly related to improper operation by the driver himself.
3. Assembly
For the most part, cars owe their reliability to the right process assemblies. Each operation performed on the conveyor must be fully completed and at the same time completed with high quality. To control this action, the workshops are equipped with special devices that do not allow assembly to continue if something is done incorrectly.
Thus, in the production of Toyota, there cannot be such a situation that the wrong part goes to the next site, and then is finalized. Employees immediately report any deviation from the norm to the management, even if it is a trifle in the form of a bolt that is not fully tightened. The foreman tries to fix the problem without slowing down the conveyor, but if this fails, then the work stops to analyze the problem and solve it competently.
4. Quality control
A multi-stage system of external quality control is even more complex and responsible than the assembly process. Each workshop independently checks the models for the so-called critical points. This is the car's compliance with the law, checking threaded connections, safety, emissions into the atmosphere and other things. All hinged panels are controlled on body geometry, and for every 20th car, the body is checked completely at more than 500 control points.
Also, each workshop is subjected to an external inspection at the end of the working day, which examines all changes, and especially deviations that occurred during the production process.
The final inspection awaits each model produced before being sent to the warehouse. Absolutely all cars are inspected for appearance compliance - build quality, paintwork - and for functional characteristics, such as camber / toe angles, engine, chassis and transmission operation, electronic assistants and other parameters.
5. Innovation
Toyota once again received the title of one of the most innovative automotive corporations peace. The company has always been focused on continuous self-improvement, which is why it annually issues more patents for the latest developments than all other automakers combined. With its own research and development center, Toyota is constantly equipping its models with new systems that make it easier for the owner to manage. Moreover, the novelties introduced by it are not only actively taking root among motorists, but also other manufacturers are adopting them.
Among the latest innovations it is worth noting the following:
- an adaptive lighting system that directs a beam of light depending on the turn of the steering wheel;
- built-in air ionizer;
- Safety Sense system, which includes a package of components for pre-collision safety, warning of violation of road markings, automatic activation high beam for optimal visibility at night and turning it off when another vehicle appears on the horizon, a radar for detecting dangerously close objects that threaten a collision;
- the IDDS stability control is supplemented with new functions, such as reducing the engine speed when deviating, reducing the power of the power steering, selective braking of the wheels, redistribution of torque;
- continuous improvement of the climate control system;
- replacement of all optics with LED;
- the introduction of "smart" panoramic view cameras that collect data and transmit them to the central display so that the driver can better navigate traffic situation and predicted the passage of difficult sections of the route in advance;
- improved cruise control, which maintains not only the set speed, but also the permissible distance to the vehicle in front.
6. Engines
No wonder there is an opinion among the people that the engines installed on any of the Toyota models are the best. They really are so unique in their kind that connoisseurs of quality units will prefer a budget engine from Toyota to a more expensive product from another manufacturer. Why have engines gained such immense popularity?
- In all cars, the engine compartment is very rationally arranged. Therefore, even in the event of a need for repair, it is not necessary to disassemble many parts and assemblies in order to carry out diagnostics or minor repairs. All this significantly reduces the cost of maintenance and repair work Toyota cars.
- The company spares no expense in the development of its motors, from which they differ in really excellent performance.
- Every detail, every part of the engine is selected so carefully to ensure the slowest possible wear, trouble-free operation and good maintainability.
7. Operation
If we compare Toyota cars with their “classmates” in terms of engine size, cost of spare parts and other equal parameters, then they significantly win in terms of maintenance costs. Some car owners may argue that the same german auto industry much less in need of repair. This is true, but even the most insignificant action regarding the “German” will cost much more than equivalent work with a Toyota car.
8. Focus on the future
It was Toyota who first realized the importance of hybrid cars and was the first to introduce its Toyota Prius. Since then, 20 years have passed, and the company has already sold more than 10 million hybrids. Despite the fact that almost the whole world was sure of the failure of the concept itself and did not believe in the success of the car put into production, Toyota has always had the gift of providence.
And even hybrid cars Japanese manufacturer different from similar models. The batteries installed on them, also developed by Toyota, have an incredible lifespan comparable to the life of the car itself. Engineers ensure that ordinary car the battery will have to be changed more often than in a hybrid that has a special lithium-ion battery.
9. Cost
Toyota cars can rightfully be called popular. Manifold model range allows each motorist to choose a transport to his taste and budget. This is the fundamental difference between the brand, which immediately positioned itself as a democratic company in all respects. If we compare Toyota cars with direct competitors - the "Germans", the latter initially could not boast budget models than themselves led to Japanese expansion.
10. Adaptation
Coming to the Russian market and getting acquainted with our off-road conditions, Toyota tried to adapt its models to the existing conditions as much as possible. No sensitive suspension, no ceramic coating on the cylinders and, most importantly, resistance to sudden climate changes.
Video about Toyota cars:
