BookTitleToyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Summary

Toyota Tsusho 70-Year History

supported TMC build a factory in that U.S. state. In September of the same year,Toyoda America, Inc., established Central Manufacturing Co. as a joint venturewith Central Motor Wheel Co., Ltd., and a local company to support wheelproduction.In May 1988, Trim Masters Inc., a Toyota Tsusho joint venture with ArakawaAuto Body Co., was established to produce interior products for TMC. In May1988, Toyota Tsusho and Toyota Tsusho America Inc. borrowed land from ToyotaMotor Manufacturing, established the Georgetown Service Center, and beganhandling steel sheets, machinery, and auxiliary materials. Later, a steel sheetprocessing factory, warehouse, secondary material center, and office were added.In May 1987, Toyoda Tsusho responded to a request from Toyota MotorManufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC), and opened its Toronto Office. That officemoved to Cambridge, Ontario, a year later, in May 1988, and was renamed theOntario Office.TTAI New YorkCentral and South AmericaS.C. Toyoda Tsusho do Brasil Ltda., which was established in 1964, importedpower tools from Japan and exported food and fruit from Brazil to Japan.However, due to inflation, political instability, and foreign currency circumstances,Brazil banned imports of finished products, and S.C. Toyoda Tsusho do Brasil’sbusiness performance deteriorated.Toyoda Tsusho nevertheless participated in joint ventures in Brazil. InNovember 1973, the company set up Toyoda Koki do Brasil Industria e Comerciode Moquinas Ltda., with Toyoda Machine Works, Ltd., and in July 1974 it helpedset up Imperial Fibras Industria e Comercio Ltda., a company involved in theprocessing and export of hemp raw materials. The business of Makita-brandpower tools, which Toyoda Tsusho assembled, was transferred to Makita do BrasilFerramentas Electricas Ltda., following its establishment in 1981 by ToyodaTsusho, S.C. Toyoda Tsusho do Brasil Ltda., and Makita Electric Works, Ltd.(Makita Corp. as of 1991).In July 1970, Toyoda Tsusho opened an office in Santo Domingo, the capital ofthe Dominican Republic, the first country Toyota Tsusho exported Toyota vehiclesto. The company then signed an agency contract with the local Delta ComercialC. Por A. to expand sales of Toyota vehicles. In September 1974, ToyodaTsusho established Creditos Y Cobranzas, S.A., a 50-50 joint venture with DeltaComercial C. Por A. The new company became Toyoda Tsusho’s first overseasloan specialist.In June 1979, Toyoda Tsusho established NTN Rodamientos (Argentina) S.A.through a joint investment with NTN Toyo Bearings (currently NTN Corp.) andthe Tsuji Group. Later, the company increased its percentage ownership, and NTNRodamientos (Argentina) S.A. was reorganized as Toyoda NTN (Argentina). InJune 1987, Toyoda Tsusho set up Tsuji Insurance Brokers de Seguros S.A. incollaboration with the Tsuji Group.Santo Domingo OfficeEuropeIt was in 1962 that Toyoda Tsusho established a foothold in Europe. InToyoda Tsusho Europe around 1980History73