Toyota: marque history

Toyota

Brand history and model connections.

The G1 truck and AA passenger car originated in the automobile department of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The archive distinguishes this department from the later Toyota Motor Company.

Toyota describes the interlocked inner ellipses as customers’ expectations and the manufacturer’s ideal, forming a T; the outer ellipse represents the global reach and growth of its technology. This is the manufacturer’s interpretation of the design.

Timeline

1. 1936–1937

   A logo competition in 1936 selected the Toyota spelling. Toyota Motor Company was founded on 28 August 1937.

   Source and scope

   Manufacturer source ↗ · JP · 1936–1937

   Toyota mark chosen by public contest; paragraphs on September 25 selection and April 1937 trademark. Checked 6 October 2026. Source date: 2012 (archive copyright year; exact publication day unknown).

2. 1989-10-02

   Toyota dates the introduction of its new mark and logo to 2 October 1989. This precise design event is separate from the year-only U.S. debut of Lexus.

   Source and scope

   Manufacturer source ↗ · Toyota brand history · 1989-10-02

   retained supporting_lines lines 20–21. Checked 6 October 2026. Source date: not stated (individual publication/revision UNKNOWN; Toyota 75 Years archive context 2012).

Explore the cars

Explore brand relationships →

How the brands connect.

This relation describes brand affiliation. It does not assign shares, subsidiary status or a separate legal company identity. Its end date is not established by this historical source.

Toyota’s historical archive identifies Lexus as its luxury marque, introduced in the United States in 1989.