As one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, Toyota achieved a remarkable milestone in 2008 by selling over 8.9 million vehicles across five continents. Ranked 8th on Interbrand’s 2009 “Most Valuable Brands” list, Toyota takes pride not only in being a leading global company but also in being one of the most admired automobile manufacturers of all time. The company believes that its success is rooted in its commitment to customer satisfaction. Toyota’s corporate culture is built upon unique values and principles that trace back to its founding years in Japan.

Toyota’s journey began in the late 19th century with a groundbreaking innovation in Japan’s textile industry. Sakichi Toyoda revolutionized the sector by inventing the country’s first automatic loom. In 1918, he established Toyoda Spinning & Weaving Company (now known as Toyota Boshoku), and with the support of his son, Kiichiro, he fulfilled one of his greatest dreams by completing the fully automatic loom in 1924. Two years later, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works was founded to further develop and manufacture this technology.

Like his father, Kiichiro Toyoda had an innovative spirit. During his travels to the United States and Europe in the 1920s, he was deeply inspired by the rapidly growing automotive industry. With the £100,000 earned from selling the patent for his father’s loom, he made a visionary decision to establish Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in 1937. From weaving looms to automobiles, Toyota’s journey has become a story of pioneering achievements and industry leadership.