Toyota is one of the most popular companies in the world and is recognized by many as an iconic brand of car. However, despite the fact that the company has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Toyota. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: Toyota Was Originally Toyoda
No, that’s not a spelling error! The company’s founder was Kiichiro Toyoda. However, after discovering that the logo was more visually appealing with a “t” than a “d,” Toyoda changed the name.
Number Fourteen: The Company’s First Engine Was a Chevy
Almost, anyway. Its first engine incorporated many pieces of an actual Chevy motor, and the rest of the parts were cast.
Number Thirteen: Its First Design Came From Chrysler
Toyoda decided to model his company’s first car after a Chrysler DeSoto because he thought the car was ahead of its time. Because he knew his own version of the car wouldn’t come out for a couple years, he chose the DeSoto because he didn’t think it would be dated when it was finally released.
Number Twelve: The Company Used a Lot of Trial and Error in the Beginning
To develop advanced technology, the company would develop a prototype model to test out. It then performed numerous trials on the prototype to figure out what worked and what didn’t.
Number Eleven: Its Factories Are Modeled After Supermarkets
It’s true! The company is designed to produce exactly what it needs so it doesn’t have any extra parts in its factories. This might not sound like a revolutionary concept, but at the time it was introduced it was completely new.
Number Ten: The Land Cruiser Was Originally a Jeep
Toyota’s Land Cruiser was originally developed in 1951 and was first called the Toyota Jeep. However, the Jeep company told them they couldn’t use the name, and in 1954, it began going by the Land Cruiser.
Number Nine: It Built Cars for the Government
And, in fact, their very first version of the Jeep (Land Cruiser) was built for the Korean War. Stay tuned for part two of our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Toyota, coming soon!