Toyota Motor Corporation

What does Toyota own?
Toyota Motor Corporation owns the Toyota and Lexus automotive brands, which are sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. Toyota also holds majority ownership of Daihatsu Motor Company (small vehicles for Asian markets) and a significant stake in Hino Motors (commercial trucks). Toyota holds minority stakes in several major automotive component suppliers including Denso, Aisin, and Toyota Industries, as well as a stake in Subaru Corporation.

Is Toyota publicly traded?
Yes, Toyota Motor Corporation is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 7203. The company's American Depositary Receipts also trade on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker TM. Toyota has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no single controlling shareholder. The Toyoda family maintains significant influence through board representation, with Akio Toyoda serving as Chairman.

Who founded Toyota?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937. Kiichiro was the son of Sakichi Toyoda, who had founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works in 1926. Kiichiro used proceeds from the sale of the loom patent to fund automobile research and established the automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works in 1933 before spinning off Toyota Motor Corporation as an independent company in August 1937.

Where is Toyota headquartered?
Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Toyota City was renamed in honor of the company in 1959, reflecting the automaker's central role in the local economy. The company also maintains significant operations in Tokyo and operates manufacturing facilities in more than 28 countries worldwide.

How many vehicles does Toyota sell annually?
Toyota is the world's largest automaker by annual vehicle sales volume. In fiscal year 2025 (ended March 31, 2025), Toyota sold approximately 10.8 million vehicles globally under the Toyota and Lexus brands. The company achieved record US sales of approximately 2.5 million vehicles in calendar year 2025, with approximately 47% of global sales being electrified models including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles.

Who owns Toyota?
Toyota Motor Corporation is publicly traded with a broad and diversified shareholder base. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. The Toyota Group companies, including Toyota Industries Corporation, Denso, and other affiliates, collectively hold significant stakes in Toyota Motor Corporation through cross-shareholding arrangements. The Toyoda founding family maintains influence through board representation, with Akio Toyoda serving as Chairman, but does not hold a majority economic interest in the company.

Toyota's origins trace to the Toyoda family's textile machinery business. Sakichi Toyoda founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works in 1926, and his son Kiichiro Toyoda used proceeds from the sale of the loom patent to fund automobile research. Kiichiro Toyoda established the automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works in 1933 and produced the company's first prototype passenger car in 1935.

Toyota Motor Corporation was formally established as an independent company in August 1937, separating from Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The company's name was changed from Toyoda to Toyota, partly for marketing reasons and partly because Toyota requires eight brush strokes to write in Japanese, a number considered lucky.

Toyota began exporting vehicles to the United States in 1958, initially with limited success. The company's fortunes in the US market improved significantly in the 1960s and 1970s as American consumers sought fuel-efficient alternatives to domestic vehicles, particularly following the 1973 oil crisis. The Corolla, launched in 1966, became one of the best-selling cars in history.

Toyota established its first US manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky in 1988, as part of a broader strategy to localize production in key markets and reduce trade friction. The Georgetown plant, known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, became one of the largest automotive manufacturing facilities in North America.

In 1989, Toyota launched the Lexus brand in the United States, targeting the luxury vehicle segment with a focus on quality, reliability, and customer service. The Lexus LS 400 received critical acclaim upon launch and established Toyota's credibility in the premium market.

The 1997 launch of the Toyota Prius marked a pivotal moment in automotive history. The Prius was the world's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, combining a conventional gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery system to achieve significantly improved fuel economy. The Prius became a cultural symbol of environmental consciousness and established Toyota as the leader in hybrid vehicle technology.

Toyota faced a significant crisis in 2009 and 2010 when the company issued a series of large-scale vehicle recalls related to unintended acceleration issues. The recalls affected millions of vehicles globally and resulted in substantial costs and reputational damage. Toyota subsequently invested heavily in quality control and safety systems.

In 2021, Toyota announced a comprehensive electrification strategy, committing to invest 8 trillion yen in electrification through 2030 and to offer battery electric vehicle options across all vehicle segments. The company launched the bZ4X battery electric SUV in 2022 as the first model in its dedicated bZ (beyond Zero) electric vehicle lineup.

Koji Sato succeeded Akio Toyoda as President and CEO in April 2023. Akio Toyoda, grandson of founder Kiichiro Toyoda, had served as president since 2009 and transitioned to the role of Chairman.

For fiscal year 2025 (ended March 31, 2025), Toyota reported consolidated net revenues of approximately 47.5 trillion yen, with operating income of approximately 4.8 trillion yen. The company achieved record US sales of approximately 2.5 million vehicles in calendar year 2025, with approximately 47% of sales being electrified models.