Toyota is one of the world's largest car manufacturers, selling more than 8.8 million vehicles on 5 continents in 2006. "Toyota" is in the top ten among the world's largest 500 companies and is rightly one of the beloved car manufacturers. The company believes that this achievement stems from customer satisfaction.

The Toyota story begins in the late 19th century, when Saki Chi Toyo invented Japan's first electric loom, revolutionizing the country's textile industry.

In January 1918, Saki founded Chi Toyoda Spinning and Weaving Company, and with the help of his son Kiichiro Toyoda, in 1924, he created his lifelong dream of automated weaving. Two years later, he founded Automated Weaving at Toyo.

Like his father, Kiichiro was an innovator, and during his travels to Europe and the United States in the 1920s, he became deeply interested in the emerging automobile industry. With £100,000 from the sale of Sakichi Toyoda's copyright for automated weaving, Kiichiro founded the Toyota Motor Corporation and the company was established in 1937.

From looms to automobiles, Toyota's expertise has been shaped by pushing the boundaries of manufacturing. As noted in the 2006 issue of Fortune magazine.