[This is a sponsored article with UMW Toyota.]
Ask anyone about Toyota, and the word “reliable” will likely come up.
Whether it’s a Corolla that’s been passed down from their parents or a Hilux that’s travelled across harsh terrains, Toyota’s cars have earned a reputation for their durability.
But long before the powerful engines and assembly lines, Toyota was in a completely different trade—textiles.
Yes, the same company that gave us the Camry and Supra, once specialised in making automatic looms.
From weaving looms to automobile engines
Toyota’s story began in 19th-century Japan with Sakichi Toyoda, a self-taught inventor who was dedicated to making work more efficient.
Growing up in a rural farming village, Sakichi saw his mother’s struggles with manual weaving, so he started designing machines to help her. From 1890 up to 1924, he came up with various kinds of weaving looms until he landed on a golden idea, the Toyoda Automatic Loom, Type G.
At the time, the Type G was a revolutionary invention because it could stop itself when a thread broke, which saved valuable production time and fabric wastage.
The machine became a global success, and Sakichi sold the loom’s patent rights to British firm Platt Brothers & Co. for £100,000 in 1929.
This marked the beginning of the company’s transition from textiles to automobiles.
Much like his father Sakichi, Kiichiro Toyoda was also a visionary. After studying manufacturing methods abroad, he saw Japan’s potential to build its own cars and was on a mission to accomplish just that.
In 1933, Kiichiro set up an Automotive Production Division under Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. Two years later, the company built its first engine called the Model A engine, and subsequently the Model GA truck and Model AA passenger car.
As the Automotive Production Division grew and made more advancements, the team established Toyota Motor Co., Ltd in 1937.
Fun fact: The name “Toyota” was chosen for the company in 1936 after a logo designing competition which saw 27,000 entries submitted. Part of the reason they went with “Toyota” instead of “Toyoda” is because its Japanese characters were visually less cluttered.
The philosophy that shaped Toyota’s global success
Fast forward to the present day, the Toyota brand is now synonymous with quality, efficiency, and innovation.
Much of this can be attributed to Toyota’s core philosophy since its loom-weaving days: Kaizen.
Kaizen (which translates to “change for the better”) is a principle that drives the organisation at every level. Whether you’re in the boardroom or part of the factory floor team, Toyota’s employees are encouraged to constantly work towards improvement.
This philosophy gave rise to the popular Toyota Production System (TPS) that’s now taught in schools worldwide. Its core pillars are:
- Jidoka (or “automation with a human touch”), the concept of pausing production the moment irregularities appear to prevent more defective products.
- Just-In-Time (JIT), the concept of synchronising production to produce only what’s needed, when it’s needed, in the right quantity.
The continuous pursuit of these two pillars is what gives Toyota its competitive strength and unique advantages.
The firm’s approach to steady, deliberate growth began after World War II when Japan’s economy was rebuilding. The company focused on perfecting domestic production before expanding overseas to key global markets like Australia, North America, and the UK.
In the decades that followed, Toyota also established markets across the globe, each adhering to the TPS to ensure uniform quality. This model helped Toyota gain international trust, eventually becoming the world’s largest automaker by sales in 2008.
Beyond production efficiency, Toyota’s edge also comes from its long-standing commitment to innovation. In the late 1990s, it launched the Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. The bold move set a new standard for sustainable mobility and cemented Toyota’s reputation as a forward-thinking brand.
An international icon known for its reliability
In its 88 years, Toyota has earned a reputation for producing reliable vehicles. This isn’t from mere customer testimonials, but that reputation has been literally put to the test by experts.
During a now-famous Top Gear episode, the hosts tried various ways to destroy a Toyota Hilux. They crashed it into walls, set it on fire, even sank it in the sea. Yet, the pickup truck survived every single attempt, cementing Toyota’s legendary durability in pop culture.
This same focus on precision and improvement keeps Toyota at the top of global charts. Reuters reported that the brand sold 10.8 million vehicles in 2024, solidifying its spot as the world’s best-selling automaker for the fifth consecutive year.
Aside from being a daily driver, Toyota’s motorsport division, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), offers motorsport enthusiasts access to high-performance cars.
In fact, TGR has been making a name for itself for many years. For example, at this year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring, the GR Supra GT4 Evo2 finished in 29th place while the GR Yaris finished in 52nd place.
Toyota’s influence extends beyond its own brand too. It holds major stakes in Subaru (20%), Mazda (5%), and Suzuki (4.94%), while wholly owning Daihatsu and Lexus.
Still embodying the kaizen spirit, Toyota is investing billions in hybrid, hydrogen, and electric vehicle (EV) technologies. It’s even reported that the automotive company aims to develop 15 EV models by 2027, as well as produce 1 million cars annually by then.
It’s a natural evolution for a firm that began by rethinking looms. And today, Toyota continues to rethink what mobility can mean.
Featured Image Credit: Noriaki Mitsuhashi from N-RAK PHOTO AGENCY
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