The History and Evolution of the Toyota Logo

By: Anas Assaf

February 28,2019

2 min read

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Introduction to Toyota

Toyota is one of the most successful automotive brands in history, renowned for its quality, warranty, and reliability. Toyota vehicles are among the most sought-after cars worldwide. The Toyota logo has undergone significant evolution just like other major companies globally. Each step in the logo's development aimed to create a design that best reflects the brand identity of "Toyota." This article will explore the history of this logo, examining the meaning behind it and how its design has reached its current form.

Establishment of Toyota and Logo Evolution

Toyota was founded in 1939 by Akio Toyoda. Initially, the first design of the Toyota logo bore the name "Toyoda." This first logo emerged from a design competition held by the company, which also featured the name Toyoda written in Kanji (a Japanese writing system with Chinese origins). The old logo was accompanied either by a wing symbol representing speed or by the "Shakuhōku," a symbol associated with the city of Nagoya in Japan, where the company was established. Toyota placed all these logos on the car models it created during that period.

Name and Logo Change

The company's name was changed from Toyoda to Toyota in the 1940s for three main reasons:

The name Toyota sounds better than Toyoda.
The name Toyota is written using only eight Japanese strokes, symbolizing good luck.
This change indicated the company's transition towards a significant role in the industrial world.

Along with the name change, the logo was also updated to a circular design featuring the name Toyota in Kanji characters. Despite its simplicity, this logo had a significant impact. Over time, a new logo was created, which has been widely used in Toyota’s vehicle lineup and promotional materials to this day.

Modern Toyota Logo

The Current Toyota Logo

The current Toyota logo was introduced in 1989 to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary. This release marked a new chapter in the company's history, with the Toyota Celsior—its flagship model at the time—being the first vehicle to feature the new logo. This logo was gradually showcased across its vehicles throughout the year.

Meaning of the Rings in the Logo

The Toyota logo features three oval rings. The first two rings, located inside the logo, represent the heart of the company and the heart of the customers, forming the letter "T" for Toyota, which also resembles the shape of a steering wheel. The large outer ring symbolizes the embrace of the world towards Toyota, and this logo has been associated with the company ever since.