History

---

Each step along the way represents our tireless pursuit of customer satisfaction.
This long and rich history makes Toyota confident that we always offer customers the most advanced solutions.
Since the introduction of the Model LA 1-ton forklift in 1956, Toyota's operations have always focused on the customer's actual worksite.
This policy enables us to introduce innovative ways of material handling operations.


1867	Sakichi Toyoda, founder of today's Toyota Group, is born.

1926	Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. (now Toyota Industries Corporation) established to manufacture and market Automatic Loom invented by Sakichi Toyoda.

1933	Automobile Department set up to manufacture automobiles.

1935	Prototype of Model A1 passenger car completed.

	Company unveils Model G1 truck at a new-car-release exhibition in Tokyo.

1937	Automobile Department separates and becomes Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (now Toyota Motor Corporation)

1953	Automobile engine (S-type gasoline engine) production starts.

1956	Model LA 1-ton forklift truck, Toyota's first forklift truck model, introduced.

1957	The Model LAT 0.85-ton towing tractor introduced.

1959	Export operations start, which greatly expanded during the 1960's.

1967	Electric counterbalanced forklift truck production starts.

1970	Completed construction of Takahama plant in Japan, built exclusively for producing industrial equipment.

	Model FBR10/15 1-ton electric reach truck (stand-up ride) introduced.

1977	JOBSUN skid steer loader introduced.

1978	FBE model Narrow Ace, three-wheeled electric counterbalanced forklift truck introduced, a first among domestic manufacturers.

1985	Forklift production reaches 500,000 units.

1988	Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing, Inc. (TIEM) established in Columbus, Indiana, USA, as a joint venture with Toyota Motor Corporation.

1994	Acquires ISO9001 certification.

1995	Toyota Industrial Equipment, S.A. (TIESA) established in France as a joint venture with Toyota Motor Corporation and Manitou B.F.

	Forklift production reaches 1 million units.

1998	Acquires ISO14001 certification.

	Launches the 7FG/FD engine-powered forklift series equipped with the innovative "System of Active Stability (SAS)" .

2000	Company acquires BT Industries AB of Sweden, a world-leading manufacturer of warehouse trucks.

2001	Company takes over the industrial equipment sales division of Toyota Motor Corporation.

2003	Toyota Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. (TIK) starts production of forklifts in China.

2005	The world's first concept model of Fuel-Cell forklift is exhibited at CeMAT in Germany.

2006	Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG) is established.

	Concept model of Hybrid Forklift is exhibited at Logis-Tech Tokyo in Japan.

2008	Forklift production reaches 2 million units.