Toyota makes Lexus vehicles and is Japan’s largest automaker by sales.
Toyota Motor Corporation was established in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda. It developed from the automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, founded by his father, Sakichi Toyoda. The company’s headquarters are in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Toyota introduced the Lexus luxury brand internationally in 1989. Lexus vehicles are positioned above Toyota models in price and equipment, although both brands belong to the same corporate group. Toyota’s large production and sales network has made it one of the world’s most valuable automobile companies by market capitalization.
Toyota is also strongly associated with the Prius, one of the best-known mass-market hybrid cars. Its production system popularized methods such as just-in-time manufacturing and continuous improvement. A common mix-up is confusing Toyota Motor Corporation with Toyota Industries Corporation, the earlier industrial company from which the automaker developed.