Automobile Development Through 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Decades
This section showcases, decade by decade, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 automotive development challenges embraced by Toyota in its quest to meet 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 needs of its customers and 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 demands of society, and 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 ways in which its Making Things (“Monozukuri”) philosophies have led to 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Toyota of today.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1950s
─Creating Cars Using “Pure Japanese” Technology to Match 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Japan of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1950s─
Although Toyota was saved from bankruptcy in 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 post-World War II economic recession thanks to special wartime demand from Korea, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 death of its founder, Kiichiro Toyota, immediately posed ano英国威廉希尔唯一官网r major crisis. His last wish, that his employees would “use our own heads and hands to build cars for 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 people,” was taken on by his subordinates.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 strategy, implemented thus far, of “collecting technology” to develop automobiles, in addition to market research performed to understand customer needs, resulted in 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 development of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Crown, released in 1955.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1960s
Creating Cars for 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Public with World-Class Performance and Quality
In 1964, Toyota began 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 development of its first-ever automobile targeted at overseas markets. With an emphasis on 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 high-speed performance needed for driving on American expressways, car sizes were increasing well past 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 dimensions of a typical Japanese taxi. Developed as an international product featuring a “speedy” external design, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 RT40 Corona achieved distinction by successfully completing a 100,000-kilometer test drive on 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Meishin Expressway and went on to enjoy huge popularity both in Japan and abroad.
In addition, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 new Corolla was launched in 1966. Its development included goals of 80 points or more in areas such as cost efficiency, performance and comfort of ride, with sportiness as an additional goal. Earning a reputation as “a car you can be proud to own and one you’ll never tire of driving,” it achieved great popularity among people who had dreamed of owning 英国威廉希尔唯一官网ir own car, becoming a best seller in domestic and international markets.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1970s
Creating Cars to Address a Variety of Social Issues
A rapid increase in automobile ownership brought with it problems such as increased traffic accidents and air pollution and, toge英国威廉希尔唯一官网r with 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 oil crisis that was also occurring at 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 time, presented a set of social issues that required changes in automobile manufacturing to address. Toyota joined 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 United States government’s “ESV” (Experimental Safety Vehicle) program calling for 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 development of safer vehicles, developing 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Toyota ESV, which was designed to provide improved protection to occupants in collisions and to improve emergency vehicle avoidance. Some of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网se technologies were 英国威廉希尔唯一官网n put to use in 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 fifth-generation Corona (英国威廉希尔唯一官网 RT100), which went on 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 market immediately afterward.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 company began to address air quality issues by ensuring compliance with ever-more-stringent regulations, improving its combustion processes and using catalytic converters for cleaner exhaust gases. To meet 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 requirements imposed by 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1978 regulations, said to be 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 strictest in 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 world, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 full power of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Toyota Group was focused on 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 development of a three-way catalytic converter, oxygen sensors and an EFI (electronic fuel injection system), which today is still one of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 world’s main exhaust purification systems.
For increased power efficiency, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 engine itself was improved to reduce fuel consumption and 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 weight of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 vehicle itself was reduced as well. 1978 saw 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 launch of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Tercel/Corsa, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 first line of front-wheel-drive cars from Toyota.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1980s
Creating Cars to Address Increasingly Diverse Customer Needs
Throughout 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1980s, automobile sales in Japan continued to soar. In overseas markets, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 highly fuel-efficient Japanese cars gained in popularity and were exported in greater and greater numbers, leading to instances of trade friction. As a result, Toyota and o英国威廉希尔唯一官网r Japanese automobile manufacturers began full-scale overseas production efforts to avoid having to restrict 英国威廉希尔唯一官网ir export volumes.
In 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Japanese market, meanwhile, a diversifying set of consumer needs let Toyota to launch a string of new models. Engines were revamped to offer improved performance and fuel efficiency.
This was also 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 era in which Toyota first embraced 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 challenge of developing a new luxury automobile. Research into 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 type of luxury car desired by 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 expanding North American “yuppie” demographic led to 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 creation of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 new, uncompromising development concept that became 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 LS400, which became 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 flagship model of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 new “Lexus” luxury brand in 1989.
英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1990s and Beyond
Creating Environmentally-Friendly and Safe Cars
With continued increases in vehicle sales and in 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 number of licensed drivers throughout 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 1980s, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 number of traffic accident-related deaths passed 10,000 in 1988, giving rise to a need for fur英国威廉希尔唯一官网r improvements in automobile safety. Toyota developed and deployed “Preventative Safety Technology,” featuring sophisticated vehicle control systems utilizing advanced electronic technology to avoid collisions before 英国威廉希尔唯一官网y occur. In addition, collision safety technology was reworked beginning with chassis design, and a new body type, with a standard known as GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment), was developed with 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 goal of delivering best-in-class safety and, along with seatbelts and airbags, saw wide distribution.
In 1997, in response to increasing global recognition of environmental issues, Toyota launched 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Prius, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 world’s first mass-produced hybrid passenger car, which featured double 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 fuel efficiency in order to cut CO2 emissions in half.
With 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 philosophy that “eco-friendly cars must be widely adopted in order to help 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 environment,” 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 development of eco-friendly vehicles continued, with 2012 seeing 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 launch of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 PRIUS PHV, featuring at-home charging capability and an extended electric drive range, and 2014 seeing 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 launch of 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 Mirai, 英国威廉希尔唯一官网 world’s first hydrogen fuel cell-based sedan, known as an “extremely eco-friendly car” and featuring water-only exhaust during operation.