Toyota first launched the Corolla in 1966.
The first-generation Corolla, designated E10, was unveiled at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show and went on sale in Japan in November 1966. Toyota positioned it between the small Publica and larger models, giving buyers a compact family car with modern features, a relatively spacious cabin, and a new 1.1-liter engine.
The name Corolla followed Toyota’s crown-inspired naming tradition: in Latin, corolla means “small crown.” The Corolla was sold through Toyota’s newly established Corolla Store network in Japan, while a closely related fastback version called the Sprinter appeared in 1968 through another dealership channel.
The launch year is sometimes confused with 1970, which marks the second-generation Corolla, or with later international introductions. The nameplate went on to become one of the world’s best-selling automotive nameplates, reaching 50 million cumulative sales in 2021 across twelve generations.