1. automotive and vehicles
2. vehicle brands
3. toyota

1935:
•The first Toyota truck, the model G1 is built
for sale in Japan.
1951:
•Toyota uses parts left over from its U.S.
Government truck contract to build the
model BJ 4WD lightweight vehicle. The BJ,
which is renamed the Land Cruiser in 1954,
features a 3.4 liter, straight six engine. The
squared-off fenders, exposed fittings and
bar-tread tires, make this early off-road
vehicle look like something assembled at an
Army surplus store.
1958:
•Toyota introduces the FJ 25 Land Cruiser to
the U.S., a rugged 4-wheel drive, 6-cylinder
vehicle with a standard canvas top, safety
straps, four shock absorbers, windshield
wipers, flashing turn signals, a spare tire and
a tool kit. The company sells just one in this
first year.
1935 G1 Truck
1958 FJ25 Land Cruiser Brochure
1959:
•Toyota sells 61 Land Cruisers in the U.S. The
Toyopet Crown Sedan, unsuited to U.S. roads, is
withdrawn from the market, leaving only the Land
Cruiser to generate sales. This is the start of
Toyota’s “Land Cruiser strategy,” a plan to
establish a beachhead in the U.S. through sales of
Land Cruisers until a new car can be designed for
America.
1961 Land Cruiser FJ25 (built in 1960)
Land Cruiser FJ40, introduced in 1960
1960:
•The FJ 25 is replaced by the FJ 40, the model that
would go on to become the most iconic Land
Cruiser. It comes equipped with a 4-cylinder, 135
hp, F-type engine becoming popular with
American consumers looking for durable, reliable,
off-road transportation. The 40 Series Land
Cruiser combined excellent highway speeds with
powerful low-end torque. Both hardtop and softtop versions are available. The hardtop version is
instantly recognizable as a simple, two-box
hardtop with wrap around rear windows and dual
swing-out doors. Toyota sells 162 Land Cruisers
in the U.S.
1963:
•Two models, the FJ 40 2-seater, and the FJ
45 pickup truck compete head-to-head with
the International Scout, Willey’s C.J.5 Jeep,
and Land Rover. The Land Cruiser
rejuvenates the segment by being the only
off road vehicle that can go 85 mph while
the competition tops out at 55 mph. Toyota
sells 1,056 Land Cruisers in the U.S.
1964:
•Toyota introduces the Stout 4x2 pickup truck to
the U.S. and sells four in its first year.
1961 Land Cruiser FJ45 Pickup Brochure
1967:
•FJ 55 Land Cruiser station wagon launched,
offering more room and additional features
like a separate heater for the rear seats. The
Land Cruiser station wagon goes head to
head with the Chevrolet Suburban as a truckbased station wagon with off-road capability
and superior towing capacity.
•Toyota discontinues the Stout; sales reach
4,000 over 2 years
1964 Stout
1971 Hi-Lux Pickup
1969 Hi-Lux Pickup Brochure
1969:
•Toyota introduces the compact Hi-Lux
truck to the U.S. replacing the Stout.
Powered by a 4-cylinder, 1.9-liter engine, the
Hi-Lux features an austere interior with a
metal dashboard and single bench seat. HiLux is positioned as a reliable, inexpensive
work truck. Sales reach, 1,756 the first year.
The early Hi-Lux trucks are equipped with
turn signal indicators placed on top of the
fenders. Placing the turn signal indicators on
top of the fenders took advantage of holes
already stamped in the fenders because
Japanese law required that rearview mirrors
be mounted on the top of the fenders.
Toyota designers put the turn signal
indicators preferred by American drivers
there to take advantage of the existing holes.
These turn signal indicators were more
visible in that position and the driver was
less likely to leave them on after making the
turn.
1973:
•Toyota teams up with Chinook Mobilodge
Inc. to manufacture recreational vehicles for
the U.S. Built on Toyota’s new long bed
truck frame, the camper has a spring-loaded
fiberglass push-up top offering more than six
feet of headroom with sleeping room for two
adults and two children. In addition, it
features a 50-pound icebox, a two-burner
butane stove, a sink, a five-gallon water
supply, and a dinette with carpeting and a
walk-through passageway to the cab.
Optional equipment includes air conditioning
and an AM radio.
•Toyota launches a second generation HiLux with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The turn signals are removed from the top of
the fenders and built into the body. An
optional 7.5-foot long bed version is
available. Over 36,000 are sold this year.
•Land Cruisers used as part of the American
“Yeti Expedition” to drive over rough terrain
in search of the elusive Big Foot.
1973 Chinook Camper
1974 Hi-Lux Pickup
1975:
•The third generation HiLux launched with a
2.2-liter, 4-cylinder engine and a 5-speed
manual transmission. Toyota offers a new
SR-5 sport truck option package. The SR-5
features racing stripes, radial tires and a 5speed overdrive transmission. The new
HiLux reaches sales of 44,450.
1976 Truck
1976:
•Toyota drops the HiLux name from its
compact pickup trucks. For the next several
years Toyota simply refers to their pickups
as Toyota trucks.
1978:
•With total light truck sales exceeding
100,000, Toyota earns the Number One
position in import small truck sales for the
year.
•Toyota sells 8,858 Land Cruisers in the U.S.
1978 Land Cruiser FJ40 Brochure
1979:
•Toyota introduces the 4x4 compact truck to
the U.S. and it is declared “4x4 of the Year”
by 4x4 And Off Road Vehicles magazine.
•Fourth generation compact truck launched,
emphasizing passenger comfort. Sales reach
128,796 for the year.
1980:
•Second generation Land Cruiser (60 Series)
launched. Responding to the growing
interest in gas mileage, the 6-cylinder 4.2liter engine gets an estimated 12-mpg in city
driving.
1979 Yamahauler 4WD truck
1983:
•Sales are discontinued for the Land Cruiser
FJ 40 model, an iconic vehicle many
considered “the standard of the industry.”
With 1,100,000 made worldwide, there may
be more FJ 40 models still running than any
off-road vehicle in history.
1980 Land Cruiser 60 Series
1984 4Runner
1984:
•Toyota introduces the 4Runner to the U.S.,
offering two models – a deluxe truck version
with seating for two and an SR-5 passenger
car version with seating for five. First year
sales exceed 11,300.
•Toyota introduces a boxy passenger van to
the U.S. Dubbed the “Van Wagon,” the 7passenger van is powered by a 2.0-liter, 4cylinder engine. First year sales exceed
33,000.
•Fifth generation compact pickup truck
launched with new aerodynamic styling.
First year sales exceed 244,000.
1989:
•Sixth generation compact pickup truck
launched with an optional V6 engine capable
of towing 3,500 pounds. Sales exceed
207,000.
1983 LE Passenger Van
1990:
•Toyota introduces the Previa minivan to the
U.S. powered by a 2.4-liter, twin-cam, 4cylinder engine. Sales exceed 41,000.
•Toyota introduces the second-generation
4Runner to the U.S. powered by either a 4or 6-cylinder model with the 4WDemand,
shift-on-the-move system.
1991:
•Third generation Land Cruiser, the FJ 80,
launched. Sales exceed 8,000.
1991 Previa Van
1992:
•Toyota introduces the T100 pickup truck,
predecessor to the Tundra, to the U.S.
Available as a 2WD or 4WD vehicle, the
intermediate size pickup is powered by a 3liter V6 engine with a single overhead cam
and electronic fuel injection capable of
producing 150 hp.
1993 T100 Truck
1994:
•Toyota introduces the Previa minivan with a
supercharged engine to the U.S.
•Toyota introduces the T100 Xtracab pickup
truck to the U.S.
1995 RAV4 4-Door SUV
1995 Tacoma
1995:
•Toyota introduces the RAV4 to the U.S.
RAV4, an acronym for Recreational Active
Vehicle with 4-wheel drive, features unibody
construction, and independent suspension on
all 4 wheels. It combines SUV-like features
with a car- like ride and becomes one of the
industry’s first “cross over” vehicles.
•Toyota re-designs and renames its pickup
truck and calls it “Tacoma.” The new truck
is powered by a 142 horsepower, 2.4 liter, 4cylinder engine in 2-wheel drive, and a 150
horsepower, 2.7-liter, 4-cylinder engine in 4wheel drive models. New features include a
coil spring suspension, a driver’s side airbag,
and 4-wheel ABS. Sales exceed 142,000.
1996:
•Third generation 4Runner launched. Sales
exceed 98,000.
1997:
•Toyota introduces the Sienna passenger van
to the U.S. Designed specifically for the
American market, the Sienna is based on a
Camry platform and built at Toyota’s
Kentucky plant. Sales exceed 15,000.
•Toyota introduces the RAV4 soft top to the
U.S.
1998:
•Toyota introduces the full-size Tundra
pickup powered by a 4.7-liter, DOHC V-8
engine. Sales exceed 42,000. To keep up
with demand, Toyota opens a truck
manufacturing plant in Indiana.
•Fifth generation Land Cruiser with a V-8
engine, launched.
•Toyota Tacoma PreRunner pickup truck
launched with a special package of features
created by Toyota Racing Development.
1998 Sienna XLE
1999 Tundra Full-Size Pickup
1999:
•Toyota introduces the Tacoma StepSide
Truck to the U.S.
2001 Sequoia
2000:
•Toyota introduces the Sequoia full-size
sport utility vehicle to the U.S. Based on the
Tundra platform, the Sequoia is built at
Toyota’s Indiana plant. Sales exceed 9,000.
•Toyota introduces the 4-door Tacoma
Double Cab to the U.S.
•Two-door soft-top RAV4 sales end.
2001:
•Toyota introduces the Highlander midsize
SUV. The Highlander is built on a Camry
passenger car platform and is powered by
either a 4 or 6-cylinder engine. Sales exceed
86,000.
2002:
•Fourth generation 4Runner launched. Sales
exceed 110,000.
2001 Highlander SUV
2003:
•Second generation Sienna passenger van is
launched. The new Sienna is larger and
more powerful.
•Toyota introduces the Tundra “Big Rig”
Double Cab pickup to the U.S.
•Toyota introduces the IMS Sienna Rampvan
to the U.S. This conversion of the all-new
2004 Sienna minivan is the first wheelchairaccessible Toyota vehicle available in the
U.S.
2004 Sienna Rampvan
2004:
•Toyota introduces the Tacoma X-Runner
sport truck to the U.S. Powered by a 245-hp,
4.0-liter, V6 engine with an exclusive 6speed manual transmission giving this truck
sports car performance.
•Seventh generation Tacoma pickup truck
launched.
2005 Tacoma X-Runner
2006:
•Toyota introduces the FJ Cruiser to the U.S.
•Toyota launches the second- generation
Tundra full-size pickup truck. To meet
expected demand, Toyota builds a modern
truck manufacturing plant in Texas.
2007 FJ Cruiser
2007 Tundra Double Cab
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX)