Toyota the Rise of a Global Corporation
Chapter 1
Toyota’s Global Expansion
In November 2004, Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, announced that the company was going to build another factory in North America, raising the number of factories producing parts or assembling cars and trucks in North America to 14. As of May 2004, Toyota manufactured parts and assembled cars in 51 overseas manufacturing companies in 26 countries/locations. In 1980, the company had only 11 production facilities in 9 countries, so it was essentially servicing the world market through exports from Japan. Since 1980, however, the company has committed more energy and resources into foreign production.
Toyota, the second largest auto manufacturer in the world, is moving aggressively to overtake leader General Motors in terms of volume. In 2004-2005, GM sold 7.4 million vehicles worldwide, and the company expects to increase sales to 8.5 million vehicles by 2006. Even though Toyota’s major manufacturing base is in Japan, with 12 plants located closely together around Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture, it is expanding its manufacturing capabilities to every corner of the world, including Russia. However, it is clear that Toyota is betting more on production in countries outside of Japan. Although Toyota hopes to produce 3.8 million vehicles in Japan by 2006, it plans on doubling its foreign output to 6 million vehicles sometime in the future. It currently produces more vehicles in Japan than it does in its overseas plants, and it exports more of its domestic production than is sold inside of Japan.
Toyota is known for its commitment to low cost, high quality, and just-in-time inventory, which implies that it must be close to its main suppliers. A major reason for the company’s success in Japan is its close proximity to key suppliers, such as Nippon Denso, which allows it to schedule the delivery of parts as soon as they are needed in the assembly operations.
One of Toyota’s major advantages
Toyota’s Global Expansion
In November 2004, Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, announced that the company was going to build another factory in North America, raising the number of factories producing parts or assembling cars and trucks in North America to 14. As of May 2004, Toyota manufactured parts and assembled cars in 51 overseas manufacturing companies in 26 countries/locations. In 1980, the company had only 11 production facilities in 9 countries, so it was essentially servicing the world market through exports from Japan. Since 1980, however, the company has committed more energy and resources into foreign production.
Toyota, the second largest auto manufacturer in the world, is moving aggressively to overtake leader General Motors in terms of volume. In 2004-2005, GM sold 7.4 million vehicles worldwide, and the company expects to increase sales to 8.5 million vehicles by 2006. Even though Toyota’s major manufacturing base is in Japan, with 12 plants located closely together around Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture, it is expanding its manufacturing capabilities to every corner of the world, including Russia. However, it is clear that Toyota is betting more on production in countries outside of Japan. Although Toyota hopes to produce 3.8 million vehicles in Japan by 2006, it plans on doubling its foreign output to 6 million vehicles sometime in the future. It currently produces more vehicles in Japan than it does in its overseas plants, and it exports more of its domestic production than is sold inside of Japan.
Toyota is known for its commitment to low cost, high quality, and just-in-time inventory, which implies that it must be close to its main suppliers. A major reason for the company’s success in Japan is its close proximity to key suppliers, such as Nippon Denso, which allows it to schedule the delivery of parts as soon as they are needed in the assembly operations.
One of Toyota’s major advantages