300m Toyotas built since 1935 beginning
Corolla the top badge at more than 53m sold
Toyota has just hit a huge milestone. The Japanese automaker has topped 300 million vehicles built and sold worldwide since it started as an automaker in 1935.
The very first Toyota was a Model G1 truck, built back in August of 1935 when the company was still called the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. Toyota didn’t say what vehicle was number 300 million, but it was probably a Corolla since the company has built more than 53 million vehicles wearing that nameplate over the years.
Chairman Akio Toyoda: “Kiichiro Toyoda said, ‘Carmaking is something everyone does together.’ I think this number of 300 million stands as proof of all the hard work, every day, of our colleagues at Toyota, our suppliers and dealers, and all the many other stakeholders, as well as all those who came before us.”
“I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude to the customers who have chosen Toyota cars, and to those who have built each car with heart and soul,” said Toyota President Koji Sato. “As well as to the suppliers and dealers who have delivered them with care, and to all our other stakeholders. I believe that this number of 300 million units could only have been achieved with the unending effort of colleagues across the company, from part and vehicle planning and design, to production, logistics, sales, and service, along with all those working to support each step.”
The figure is even more impressive as it includes only Toyota production. The figure does not appear to include brands owned in full or in part by the company, including Daihatsu, Hino, and even Lexus.
Though the industry is rapidly moving toward electrification, just the latest challenge for Toyota, don’t expect the next 300m to take so long.
