Our U.S. History

Everyone comes here with a dream. Ours began 60 years ago. Discover the milestones that have shaped our history.

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1957

 

  • Two Toyopet Crown sedans arrive in the United States
  • Toyota Motor Sales founded in California
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1958

  • Hollywood Toyota Motor Inc. opens to sell vehicles in California
  • First five dealers offer Toyopet Crown for sale
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1959

  • First Land Cruiser sold in the United States
  • Sales total 288 vehicles
  • Toyota sells 1,028 vehicles through 97 dealers
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1964

  • Stout pickup truck introduced to U.S. market

1965

 

  • Toyota begins selling Corona sedan in the U.S. through a network of 384 dealers
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1967

 

  • Toyota dedicates new headquarters in Torrance, California
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1968

 

  • Corolla hard-top sedan joins product lineup
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1971

 

  • Atlas Fabricators of Long Beach is signed to produce truck beds for pickups, marking Toyota’s first U.S. production (name later changed to TABC)
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1972

 

  • Toyota sells 1 millionth vehicle in the United States
  • Toyota Technical Center opens its first U.S. R&D facility in Michigan

1973

 

  • Calty Design Research established in Southern California

1975

 

  • Toyota becomes No. 1 in import vehicle sales in the U.S. with total annual retail sales of 328,918

1979

 

  • Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A., established
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1981

 

  • Celica Supra introduced
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1982

 

  • Toyota’s U.S. headquarters complex open in Torrance, California
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1983

 

  • Camry is introduced to the United States as a replacement for the Corona
  • Toyota Financial Services opens

1983

 

  • The first 4Runner hits showroom floors.
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1986

 

  • Groundbreaking is held on Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, an $800 million manufacturing plant in Georgetown
  • Toyota produces its first vehicle in the U.S. – the Corolla FX16

1987

 

  • Toyota USA Foundation is established with a $10 million endowment
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1988

 

  • First U.S. – made Camry is produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky

1996

 

  • Two new plants – Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (assembly) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia (engine) – break ground

  • RAV4 launches

  • Toyota’s 20 millionth vehicle is sold in the U.S.

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1997

 

  • Camry becomes the best-selling car in America
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2000

 

  • Prius hits the road in the U.S.

  • North American Parts Center, Kentucky opens

2003

 

  • Toyota sells its 30 millionth vehicle in the United States

  • Construction begins on Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX)

2004

 

  • Tundra production begins at TMMTX
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2007

 

  • Camry begins competing in NASCAR
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2012

 

  • Tundra tows the space shuttle Endeavour to the California Science Center

  • Toyota partners with Hiring Our Heroes program for military vets and families

2014

 

  • Toyota announces new North American headquarters and consolidation of operations in Plano, Texas

  • Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center launches

2016

 

  • Toyota Research Institute begins operations in Palo Alto, Ann Arbor and Cambridge

  • Toyota’s hybrid sales hit 3 million

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2017

 

  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, hits 5 million engine production milestone

  • Toyota Technical Center expands and changes name to Toyota Motor North America Research & Development Center

  • Toyota opens new HQ in Plano, Texas, consolidating R&D, manufacturing and sales

2019

 

  • Toyota breaks ground on Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, USA, a joint-venture plant with Mazda in Alabama.

2021

 

  • More than 30 million vehicles produced in U.S. Toyota also announces establishment of a full line-up of electrified vehicles.