BookTitleToyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Summary

Toyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Opening a Directly Managed Dealer in ArgentinaIn September 1998, Toyota Tsusho established Toyota Panamericana (TTCA,currently TTC Auto Argentina S.A.) as a wholly owned Toyota vehicle dealer inBuenos Aires, Argentina.At the time, the automobile market in Argentina boasted a scale of 400,000to 500,000 units a year, and finished vehicles were also being actively exportedto and imported from neighboring Brazil. However, Argentina’s market mainlycomprised European manufacturers producing locally. TTCA’s business revolvedaround selling Hilux vehicles produced by Toyota Argentina S.A. (TASA), as wellas finished vehicles imported from Japan and the U.K.TTC Auto Argentina, S.A.Branch Office Opened for a Directly Managed Agency in Trinidad andTobagoIn March 1998, the San Fernando Branch of Toyota Trinidad and TobagoLtd. (TTTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho, opened and startedproviding new vehicle sales, parts, and service. The San Fernando area had strongdemand for Toyota vehicles due to its concentration of petrochemical companies,which are the main industry of Trinidad and Tobago.5 Business Development in EuropeToyota Project in the U.K.The European Union (EU) introduced the euro in 1999, forming a singlecurrencymarket. In the early 1990s, TMC had decided to commence localproduction in the U.K. to best exploit the growing European market. To supportthese activities, in November 1989 Toyota Tsusho Europe S.A. (TTESA), whichhad its headquarters in Belgium, opened its Derby Office in England, and theLondon Office was upgraded to a branch in the following year.In February 1992, Toyota Tsusho established Toyota Tsusho U.K. Ltd. (TTUK)in London as a local subsidiary, and in April 1992 TTESA’s Derby Office wasintegrated and started operations as a branch office. In 1995, Toyota Tsusho beganexporting Coronas produced in the U.K. (and then remodeled into the ToyotaAvensis) to 30 overseas countries via the Automobile Department established inTTUK’s London headquarters.Toyota Trinidad and Tobago Ltd.Toyota Tsusho (U.K.) Ltd.Toyota Project in FranceWhile backing up TMC’s local production base Toyota Manufacturing (UK)Ltd. (TMUK) in the U.K., Toyota Tsusho prepared a support structure for sales ofToyota vehicles in developing countries, such as those in Africa.In December 1997, TMC decided to build its second production base in Europe,in the suburbs of Valenciennes, northern France, so Toyota Tsusho started itssecond Toyota project in Europe. In October 1998, Toyota Tsusho established theTTTSA Valenciennes Office to support the launch of Toyota’s project in France.In February 1999, Toyota Tsusho Auto Valenciennes S.A.R.L. (TTAV), awholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho that was liquidated in March 2014 wasestablished, and sales of French-made Toyota vehicles started in France.Forklift Division ExpansionToyota Tsusho Europe (TTESA), headquartered in Belgium, had a sales andToyota Tsusho Auto ValenciennesHistory113