Toyota vehicles in Japan are distributed to numerous dealership chains throughout the country. Up to May 2020, each dealership chain had a different product offering, with some models restricted to one chain to maintain exclusivity. Since May 2020, every Toyota model in Japan was available in all dealership chains. [1] Current dealership chains include Toyota Store, Toyopet Store, Toyota Corolla Store and Netz Store.
In Japan in the late 1940s, Toyota's sales department was part of its manufacturing company and had its office in Nagoya. [2]
At that time, the Japanese auto industry was controlled by the U.S. government. [3] The majority of Toyota's sales was composed of trucks and buses. The new car business in Japan was quite limited. [4] There was little need for consumer-oriented branding or consumer-oriented showrooms.
On April 3, 1950, Toyota established a separate company for sales of its motor vehicles, including exports, called トヨタ自動車販売株式会社 Toyota Jidōsha Hanbai Kabushiki Gaisha, Toyota Auto Sales Corporation, sometimes abbreviated トヨタ自販 Toyota Jihan. [2] In 1950, there were forty-seven sales outlets for Toyota vehicles in Japan. [5]
In 1955, Toyota launched a new style of sedan, the Crown. [6]
In 1957, Toyota began manufacturing a slightly smaller and more economical sedan, the Corona. [7] A separate sales network, Toyopet Stores (トヨペット店 Toyopetto-ten), was created to sell the Corona and Toyopet ToyoAce trucks. It currently[ when? ] features mid-range models.[ citation needed ]
To distinguish Crown showrooms from Corona showrooms, the former came to be called Toyota Stores (トヨタ店 Toyota-ten). [8] In the 1960s, Toyota Stores added a new luxury car, the Century.
In 1957, Toyota launched Toyota Diesel Stores (トヨタディーゼル店 Toyota Dīzeru-ten), a dealership network for diesel commercial vehicles that initially sold trucks, buses, and forklifts, such as the Dyna and Coaster. Hino products were likewise sold at Diesel Stores after Toyota acquired that company in 1967. Starting in 1980, Diesel Stores sold the Starlet, Corolla, Corona, Vista, and Crown equipped with diesel engines, as well as the first-generation Tercel, although it was not available with a diesel engine at the time. When the Toyota Diesel store network was disbanded in 1988, commercial vehicles were divided between Toyota Stores and Toyopet Stores.[ citation needed ]
Toyota Publica Stores (トヨタパブリカ店 Toyota Paburika-ten) were established in 1961 to sell the Publica. In 1966, the chain of outlets was renamed Toyota Corolla Store" (トヨタカローラ店 Toyota Karōra-ten); it sells the economy model, Corolla. [9]
The "Toyota Auto Stores" (トヨタオート店 Toyota Ōto-ten) sales network was established in 1967 to sell a Corolla clone called the Sprinter. "Toyota Vista Stores" (トヨタ・ビスタ) sales network was established in 1980, and a Camry clone called the Vista was developed in 1982. [9] Toyota Auto Stores were rebranded as Netz Toyota (ネッツトヨタ店 Nettsu-Toyota-ten) ("Network of Energetic Teams for Zenith"), targeting young buyers, in August 1998. Toyota Vista Stores was subsequently merged into Netz Toyota in 2004. Some former Vista Store models, such as the Altezza and the Aristo, were rebranded as Lexus (レクサス Rekusasu), while other products were taken over by Netz Toyota, which was already selling the ist and the RAV4.[ citation needed ]
In 2012, selected Japanese dealerships were given a special designation, Area 86, that resembled the North American Toyota network, called Scion, to sell the 86, building on the marketing approach started with WiLL-branded products. [9] [10] As of 2017, the Area 86 network was rebranded as GR for Gazoo Racing, sharing a similar approach to the performance division Toyota Racing Development (TRD), providing various upgrades for the 86, Vitz, Prius, Mark X, Harrier, Noah and Voxy. [11]
In the female idol[ clarification needed ] group, AKB48, Toyota and AKS have worked together to create a subunit named Team 8, which was marketed with the slogan: "Idols who come to meet you." They have a total of 47 members, each representing a prefecture of Japan.[ citation needed ]
Starting in May 2020, models that were exclusive to particular Toyota dealership networks began to be shared with other Toyota dealership networks. Consequently, in Japan a customer can purchase any Toyota new from any of the four dealership groups, while Lexus products remain exclusive to Lexus locations. [12]
The following is a list of models that used to be exclusive to certain dealerships. The past models are identified with a ☆ while the present models are identified with a ★, as well as where they were available at retail channels nationally. Most of the models can now finally be found in every store from all dealership groups since May 2020 due to Toyota's Unification Strategy. Exceptions like the Century are labelled with an ◎.
Note that some cars appear in more than one dealership list (e.g. the Toyota Prius shows up in the car list of all four dealerships). This is because such car were already available in more than one dealership (in this case, the Prius was available in all four dealerships).
Vehicles sold at Toyota Store:
Century★◎, Crown Majesta☆, Crown★, Master☆, SAI☆, Mirai★, Prius★, Aqua★, Allion☆, Succeed☆, Blade☆, Avensis☆, Sienta★, Corolla RunX☆, C-HR★, Porte☆, Estima☆, Isis☆, Roomy★, FJ Cruiser☆, Comfort☆, Japan Taxi★, Land Cruiser★, Hilux Surf★, Land Cruiser Prado★, Dyna★, Stout☆, Esquire☆, Coaster★, QuickDelivery☆, 2000GT☆, Carina☆, Carina ED☆, GR86★, Brevis☆, Gaia☆, Cavalier☆, Classic☆, MasterAce☆, Hilux★, Mega Cruiser☆, Soarer☆, Origin☆, Caldina☆, AA sedan☆, Toyopet SA☆, G1 series truck☆, FA series truck☆, BX series truck☆.
Vehicles sold at Toyopet Store:
Mark X☆, SAI☆, Mirai★, Premio☆, Prius★, Aqua★, Belta☆, Mark X ZiO☆, Succeed☆, Ractis☆, Auris☆, Blade☆, GT-86☆, Porte☆, Harrier☆, Vanguard (3rd gen RAV4)☆, Esquire☆, Rush☆, C-HR★, Avensis☆, Alphard★, Comfort☆, HiAce★, ToyoAce☆, Tank☆, Sienta★, Pixis Space☆, Mark II-Mark II Qualis-Mark II Blit☆, Corona☆, Corona EXiV☆, Corona Coupe☆, Corsa☆, Opa☆, Avalon☆, Progrès☆, Cami☆, ist☆, Platz☆, Soarer☆, Hilux★, Cynos☆, Regius☆, Celsior☆, Origin☆, Caldina☆, Ipsum☆.
Vehicles sold at Toyota Corolla Store (starting 1966), formerly Toyota Publica Store:
SAI☆, Camry★, Prius★, Aqua★, Corolla Axio★, GR86★, Belta☆, Spade☆, Probox★, Corolla Rumion☆, C-HR★, Ractis☆, Passo☆, Corolla Spacio☆, Sera☆, Vanguard (3rd gen RAV4)☆, Roomy★, Estima☆, Noah★, Avensis☆, Sienta★, TownAce★, Pixis lineup★, Publica☆, Tercel☆, Windom☆, Scepter☆, Corolla Ceres☆, Origin☆, Nadia☆, WiLL☆, RAV4★, Sports 800☆, Celica☆, Supra★, Corolla Levin☆, Celica XX☆, Celica Camry☆.
Vehicles sold at Netz Store (starting 1998), formerly Toyota Vista Store (starting 1980), formerly Toyota Auto Store (starting 1967):
Vitz☆, Yaris★, SAI☆, Prius★, Aqua★, ist☆, Auris☆, bB☆, Avensis☆, Raum☆, Spade☆, Wish☆, Voxy★, RAV4★, C-HR★, Kluger☆, Vellfire★, iQ☆, Allex☆, Tank☆, Pixis lineup★, Fun Cargo☆, Pronard☆, Altezza☆, Verossa☆, Curren☆, Aristo☆, MR-S☆, MR2☆, Starlet☆, Vista☆, Cresta☆, Sprinter☆, Voltz☆, Blizzard☆, Chaser☆, Sprinter Marino☆, Carib☆, Granvia☆, Sprinter Trueno☆, LiteAce★, Ipsum☆, GR86★, WiLL (1999–2004)☆.
The Toyota Avensis is a mid-size/large family car built in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by the Japanese automaker Toyota from October 1997 to August 2018. It was the direct successor to the European Carina E and was available as a four-door saloon, five-door liftback and estate.
The Toyota Corona is an automobile manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota across eleven generations between 1957 and 2001. On launch, the Corona was Toyota's second-highest product in their range, just below the Crown. The Corona was marketed in the JDM at Toyota's Toyopet Store dealership channels, and the Corona was one of Toyota's first models exported to other global markets, followed by the smaller Toyota Corolla.
The Toyota Sprinter is a compact car manufactured by Toyota as a variant of the Toyota Corolla. Exclusively sold in the Japanese domestic market, the Sprinter was aimed to be sportier than its Corolla sibling and also using different sheet metal mostly on the C-pillar. The Sprinter was sold exclusively at the Toyota Auto Store while the Corolla was sold at the eponymous Toyota Corolla Store, which focused on economical cars compared to the more upmarket Vista store.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is known for starting the wave of compact crossovers.
The Toyota Mark II is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cressida between 1976 and 1992 across four generations. Toyota replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida in North America with the front-wheel-drive Avalon. Every Mark II and Cressida was manufactured at the Motomachi plant at Toyota, Aichi, Japan from September 1968 to October 1993, and later at Toyota Motor Kyushu's Miyata plant from December 1992 to October 2000, with some models also assembled in Jakarta, Indonesia as the Cressida.
The Toyota Wish is an automobile produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 2003 to 2017. It is a compact MPV with standard three-row seating, and was positioned between the Corolla Spacio and the Ipsum in Toyota's minivan lineup. In Japan, it was available at Toyota Netz dealerships.
The Toyota Premio and its twin the Toyota Allion are sedans sold in Japan from 2001 to 2021 by Toyota. The sedans are designated as a compact car by Japanese dimension regulations and the exterior dimensions do not change with periodic updates. Unlike Toyota's other vehicles, the Premio and Allion are not exported, and are exclusively sold in Japan only. Size and pricing-wise, the E210 Corolla, introduced to the Japanese market in 2018 succeeds the Premio and Allion.
The Toyota Caldina is an automobile manufactured by Toyota for the Japanese market from 1992 to 2007. It replaced the Corona and Carina wagons, and was sold at Toyota Store and Toyopet Store locations in Japan. While the Caldina has never been officially exported by Toyota, its All-Trac 4WD capability and large capacity have made it a popular grey import in Australia, New Zealand, Russia and many South American countries. When it was discontinued in 2007, the T270 series Avensis wagon/estate assumed its market position.
The Toyota Noah is a minivan with two rear sliding doors built by Toyota and sold mainly in Asian countries. It is positioned below the Alphard, and above the Sienta. The Noah was also positioned below the Estima until the latter was discontinued in 2019.
The Toyota Ist is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota. It is exported to the United States as the Scion xA and Scion xD, the Middle East as the Toyota xA and to Europe and Latin America as the Toyota Urban Cruiser for the second generation.
The Toyota MC platform is a front-wheel drive automobile platform that has underpinned various Toyota and Lexus models from the compact and mid-size categories. MC sits above the older NBC and newer B platforms, but below the Toyota K platform designed for larger models such as the Camry. Automobiles based on the MC chassis started production in 1997 with the Toyota Prius (XW10).
The Toyota Porte is a mini MPV produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 2004 to 2020 that features an electric-powered sliding door on the passenger side, similar in approach to the Isis. The driver's door is of the conventional swing-open type.
The Toyota Ipsum, Picnic, or Avensis Verso is a car produced by the Japanese carmaker Toyota from 1995 to 2010. It is a compact MPV with standard three-row seating. The Ipsum, like many Toyota products, was shared as a trio of the Toyota Gaia, and sold only at Japanese Toyota dealerships called Toyota Store, next to the Toyota Carina. The Gaia was unique to Toyopet Store locations, and the Toyota Nadia was sold at Toyota Corolla Store.
The Toyota Auris is a compact car derived from the Corolla, manufactured and sold by Toyota. Introduced in 2006, the first generation three/five-door hatchback shared the platform with the E150 series Corolla, while the second generation five-door hatchback and station wagon called "Touring Sports" uses the E180 platform. The "Auris" name is based on the Latin word for "gold", "aurum".
The Toyota Origin is a limited edition mid-size car made by Toyota and released in Japan between 2000 and 2001. It was made available for sale in November 2000. It was planned that only 1,000 units of the car would be available, but in fact, 1,073 units were produced. In Japan, it was sold at Toyota Store, Toyopet Store and Corolla Store Japanese dealerships.
The ToyotaC engine family was a series of inline-4 diesel engines. There were two earlier generations of an engine Toyota named as the "Type C". The first generation was introduced in 1940 as a modification of the Type A engine. This first "Type C" was installed in the Toyota AE. The second generation was the first diesel engine at 1500cc used in the CS20 series 1959 Toyota Crown in October 1959. Japanese market vehicles with diesel engines were exclusive to Toyota Japan dealerships called Toyota Diesel Shop locations from 1979 until the dealership was cancelled in 1988.
The Toyota Mark X ZiO is a mid-size MPV manufactured by Toyota from 2007 to 2013. Replacing the Mark II Blit station wagon, it was sold exclusively in Japan and was exclusive to Toyopet Store dealerships, sold alongside the Mark X sedan from September 2007.
The Toyota ToyoAce is a light to medium cab over truck built by Toyota since September 1954. Until a renaming contest in 1956, the truck was sold as the "Toyopet Light Truck SKB". Since 1985 the ToyoAce and Dyna truck lines have been merged, with the Dynas generally being intended for heavier duty work. In Japan, it was exclusive to Japanese Toyota dealerships called Toyopet Store.
Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (TMT) is the wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation in Thailand, established in 1962. In 1979, Toyota began making pressed body parts in Thailand. In 1989, TMT began manufacturing engines locally. TMT controls the manufacturing of Toyota cars in Thailand and they supply cars to various official dealers throughout Thailand. TMT's main export market is the ASEAN region and the Oceania, but TMT also export cars to different parts of the world, especially the Toyota Hilux Vigo model. As of April 2016, there were 150 official Toyota dealers with 455 showrooms approved by TMT.
