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Toyota History and 5 Facts Every Car Salesman Should Know
Explore the history and fun facts about Toyota, and you’ll have conversation starters ready for all your customer interactions both online and on your lot.
Whether you’re planning new marketing materials or training your sales people to chat with potential buyers, one thing is clear: every salesperson who sells Toyota should have some fun facts about Toyota handy.
Having these facts ready can help break the ice, show your knowledge of the brand, and make the conversation more engaging. But we also know you’re interested in more practical information, so we’ll also share a list of the most popular Toyota models to help your dealership focus on customer favorites and increase your profitability.
Toyota history and overview
Toyota, the automotive giant that we know today, began its journey back in 1937. Since then, Toyota has steadily expanded. They’ve done that by focusing on technical advancements and building reliable vehicles that customers trust.
During that journey, the company has received numerous awards relating to safety, innovation, and environmental leadership. However, as a used car dealer, the award that’s probably the most relevant for you is the 2023 Best Resale Value Award.
Image source: Southeast Toyota Finance
Essentially, Toyota was recognized as having the best resale value of all brands for 2023, according to Kelley Blue Book. This is a strong indicator that Toyota vehicles hold their value well, making them a solid investment for both dealerships and buyers.
In 2023, Toyota secured its spot as the world’s leading automaker, and it was the only company to sell over 10 million vehicles that year.
Where are Toyota cars made?
There’s just one more thing you need to know before diving into Toyota fun facts. You’re running a European-based dealership, Toyota is a Japanese brand, and you can see their cars on the streets all over the world. So, where are the cars made?
It turns out, Toyota vehicles are produced globally.
While Japan is still home to some of its major production plants, Toyota vehicles are also made across Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
Image source: Toyota Europe
This global network allows Toyota to meet market demand and get cars to customers quickly and efficiently, no matter where they are in the world.
5 interesting facts about Toyota
Now that you’ve got the basics covered, it’s time to explore five of the most interesting facts about Toyota and see what makes this brand unique.
Fun Fact #1 - Toyota first began as a textile business
Before making cars, Toyota was in the textile industry. The founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, developed an automated loom and only later transitioned the business into the automotive world.
Image source: Toyota UK Magazine
The success of the invention brought a stream of funds into the business, allowing them to pivot into car manufacturing. As Toyota UK Magazine puts it, the company went from loom to vroom!
Fun Fact #2 - Toyota was originally named “Toyoda”
The company was first named after the founder’s family, Toyoda. But they soon switched to “Toyota” because it’s quicker to write in Japanese—you only need eight strokes instead of ten.
Interestingly, the switch didn’t happen just because of convenience. In Japanese culture, eight is considered a lucky number that symbolizes prosperity. So, with a simple tweak, the company gained a name that was not only easier to write but also carried good fortune.
Fun Fact #3 - There’s a Japanese city called Toyota
In Japan, there’s a city called Toyota City, located in Aichi Prefecture.
Image source: The Globe and Mail
Originally known as Koromo, the area grew after it achieved city status and merged with a nearby village.
On January 1, 1959, Koromo officially changed its name to Toyota, paying tribute to the company that had become its most important employer and economic foundation.
Today, Toyota City hosts several of the company’s largest manufacturing plants and serves as headquarters, supporting the local economy and infrastructure.
Fun Fact #4 - The Toyota logo has multiple meanings
Can you draw the Porsche logo from memory? Probably not—but the Toyota logo is another story.
The two overlapping ovals symbolize “T” for Toyota, and they also intentionally resemble a steering wheel.
The third, outer oval represents Toyota’s global reach. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the three ovals have different stroke widths, paying homage to traditional Japanese brush art.
Fun Fact #5 Toyota Tundra towed a space shuttle
If you’re into automotive fun facts, you may have already heard of a Nissan car breaking the record for pulling a cargo plane. But it looks like the sport of towing heavy objects is quite popular in the automotive world.
In fact, a Toyota Tundra joined the heavy lifter club by towing NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour in 2012.
Bear in mind that this was just a standard Toyota Tundra without any modifications! Although your customers probably won’t be towing space shuttles, mentioning this fun fact can help you show how powerful and reliable Toyota vehicles are.
Most popular Toyota models
Now that you’ve seen the fun side of this iconic brand, it’s time to think about the Toyota models with which to stock your dealership. Here’s a list of the European customer favorites.
You can bid on them through auctions or buy directly from the eCarsTrade stock.
Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius is often sometimes called “the greenest car”. In fact, this hybrid vehicle was named the top model in 2024 by the ACEEE for its low environmental impact.
So, if you’ve noticed your customers asking about eco-friendly options, the Prius is a perfect pick that lets them go green without going fully electric. After all, hybrids seem to be outperforming EVs in the market right now, so that’s your chance to meet the customer demand.
Also, the Prius holds its value well, with some of the lowest depreciation rates among hybrid cars.
Toyota Yaris
For European car dealers, the Toyota Yaris range has been a major hit, with over 5 million units sold by early 2023. The popularity of Yaris models means there’s a strong interest from customers looking for used cars, whether it’s the Yaris, the Yaris Cross, or the GR Yaris.
Essentially, stocking a Yaris can be a smart choice for tapping into a high-demand market. Another thing to consider about the Yaris is that it retains about 68% of its value after five years.
Since it holds its value so well, you won’t have to worry about new car dealerships pulling away your customers, as the Yaris stays an attractive option for customers who want quality and reliability without the cost of a new car.
Toyota Corolla
If you want fast movers that won’t stay on your lot too long, then you need to stock your dealership with cars from the Toyota Corolla range.
With 104,475 units sold in Europe in only the first half of 2023, the Corolla has proven its strong demand.
Its popularity, especially among hybrid buyers, makes it an excellent choice for those who want to meet customer demand quickly and effectively.
Toyota C-HR
Toyota C-HR is another top-seller in Europe, consistently ranking among Toyota’s most popular models. In 2023, it was Toyota’s third most popular model in the region.
Now, you may be surprised to see a model that was recently discontinued in the USA on this list.
However, the model still has a strong demand in Europe, making it a valuable addition to any used-car inventory. Plus, you can count on continued support from Toyota Service Centers, which ensures that your customers get quality service long after purchase.
How to access the history of your Toyota?
Let’s say that after reading this, you’re now interested in stocking your dealership with a Toyota or two. Or five!
In that case, how can you see the history of the vehicles you’re buying?
On eCarsTrade, many cars are listed with an overview of their previous service history. For instance, this is the listing of a Toyota C-RH from a French auction shown on eCarsTrade.
With such an overview of the car’s condition and maintenance, you could make well-informed decisions when purchasing Toyotas for your dealership.
Another way to check a car’s history is to run a VIN check with a VIN decoder tool.
This simple report provides detailed info on any past incidents, ownership, or repairs, helping you verify the vehicle’s background and ensure it’s a reliable choice for your lot.
Conclusion
There you go—you now know more fun facts about Toyota than you ever thought you’d need.
We hope that this knowledge will help you connect with customers and close deals, or at least inspire a few engaging social media posts to boost your dealership’s visibility.
And if you’re ready to go from facts to action, you can count on eCarsTrade to stock your dealership with quality, reliable models that are currently in demand.
