Brief History

Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. establishes an assembly plant (the predecessor to Toyota Auto Body) in order to begin producing automobiles.

Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. is established as a separate organization from Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The assembly plant was called the Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. Kariya Plant, which was later renamed the Kariya Plant (after construction of the Koromo Plant was completed) and handled the manufacture and modifications of automobile bodies.

The Kariya Plant is separated from Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. to specialize in the manufacture truck bodies under the company name Toyota Shatai Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Capitalization:¥9 million)

Arakawa Bankin Kogyo KK is established.*

Develops the first all-steel body truck in Japan.

Company name is changed to Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd.
Begins production of the Land Cruiser (BJ series).*

Begins production of the all-steel body compact truck (Toyoace) is begun.

Constructed the No. 1 Kariya Plant for mass-production of trucks.

Begins production of the RK160B model microbus (current name: Coaster).*
Kotobuki Plant begins production.*

Yoshiwara Plant begins production.*

Fujimatsu Plant begins production.

Advances into the field of passenger vehicle bodies (produced the first hardtop sedan in Japan).

Begins production of the cab-over vehicle (Hiace).
Cumulative production reaches 1 million vehicles.

Constructed the Fujimatsu Plant for production of passenger vehicles and
begins production of the Corona Mark II hardtop sedan.

Receives the Deming Application Prize.

Develops and begins production of Toyota Easy Carry System (TECS) manufacturer modified van-type trucks.

Construction of head officebuilding in Fujimatsu is completed.

Cumulative production reaches 5 million vehicles.

Receives the Japan Quality Medal.

Develops the world first linear motor curtains for use in vehicles.

The Kariya No.5 Plant (truck plant) begins production.
Receives Production Maintenance Excellent Plant Award.

Construction of the Toyota Auto Body Training Center is completed.

Begins production of the Previa for the European and the U.S. markets and the Estima for the Japanese market.
Establishes Toyota Auto Body Research & Development Co., Ltd. in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Becomes the first vehicle body manufacturer to produce 10-million vehicles.

Inabe Plant begins production.

Begins production of the Granvia.
Celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Construction of a sports and recreational facility is completed.
Begins production of the Lexus LX450 (becoming first vehicle body manufacturer to produce for the Lexus brand).*
Participates for first time in the Dakar Rally.*

Begins production of the Ipsum.

Begins production of the Hiace Regius.
Inabe Plant receives ISO 14001 certification.
Toyota Auto Body Headoffice and Fujimatsu Plant receive ISO9001 certification.

Begins production of the Nadia, Land Cruiser 100* and Lexus LX470*
Kariya and Fujimatsu plants receive ISO14001 certification.
Cumulative production of the Land Cruiser reaches 3 million vehicles.*

Inabe and Kariya plants receive ISO9001 certification.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Estima.
Begins production of the COMS an ultra-compact electric vehicle.*

Cumulative production reaches 15 million vehicles.
Begins production of the completely redesigned Ipsum.
Begins production of two next-generation minivans, the Voxy and Noah.

Begins production of the Alphard.
Begins production of the Estima Hyrbrid.

Cumulative production at the Fujimatsu Plant reaches 10 million vehicles.
Construction of Toyota Auto Body Development Center is completed.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Hiace.
Absorbed Araco Corporation.
Begins production of the Prius.
Establishes Thai Auto Conversion Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company to manufacture special-purpose vehicles.

Celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Begins production of special purpose vehicles that were mainly produced by the former Kariya truck plant, with a focus on vehicles for the physically impaired.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Estima.

Begins production of the fully redesigned Voxy, Noah, Land Cruiser 200 and Lexus LX570.
Gifu Auto Body Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd.

Begins production of the fully redesigned Alphard and the new Vellfire.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Prius.

Cumulative production reaches 25 million vehicles.
Cumulative production at the Yoshiwara Plant reaches 5 million vehicles.

Becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Begins production of the completely redesigned super-compact electric vehicle COMS.
PT. Sugity Creatives begins NAV1 production.
Toyota Auto Works Co., Ltd begins production of Hiace.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Voxy and Noah.
Construction of the Toyota Auto Body Kariya Fureai Park is completed.
Begins production of the Esquire.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Alphard and Vellfire.

Cumulative production reaches 30 million vehicles.
Begins production of the completely redesigned Coaster.

Van business of Toyota Motor Corporation is transferred.

Begins production of the Hiace (export only).

Begins production of the Gran Ace.

Begins production of the Lexus LM300h and LM350 (export only).

Begins production of the Land Cruiser 300.

Begins production of the Lexus LX600.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Noah and Voxy.

Begins production of the completely redesigned Alphard and Vellfire.