Toyota’s original logo was inscribed with Toyoda, after the company’s founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. The first logo that says Toyota was crowdsourced through an open competition and has since evolved to become one of the world’s most recognized brand logos.

A logo is a brand's visual identity that represents its image and values. The beauty of logos is that they can change as the company evolves and pivots. Learning the history of an automaker’s logo often shows the evolution of the company throughout the years.

Toyota’s logo history stems from a whirlwind of changes to the company through the years and we're here to walk you through it. Learn when the Toyota logo was redesigned, the meaning behind its logo, and tips on keeping your Toyota protected with the right

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History of the Toyota logo

Toyota started out selling textiles and automatic looms and was known as Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The Japanese government urged the company to expand into producing automobiles to support the nation’s war with China. What started as a wing of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works eventually became its own company, Toyota.

The original logo was inscribed with “Toyoda” and framed by two wide octagons that were accented by six lines. This logo was the debut emblem for the earliest cars produced. Later, the automaker held an open competition to crowdsource a new logo. The name change to Toyota was suggested during the course of the competition, as well.

For the company’s 50th anniversary, Toyota revealed its now-familiar corporate symbol with three ovals. This logo was developed over five years to ensure that it would be well-received in international markets.

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Toyota logo changes through time

Below is a timeline of the evolution of Toyota’s logo since the company was established:

1935: The original logo was red and inscribed with Toyoda in sans serif bold. This was centered in two wide octagons with six accent lines.

1949: The new, crowdsourced logo contained Japanese characters for Sakichi Toyoda in a double-contoured red circle.

1958: The geometric shapes were removed from the emblem and the inscription changed back to English. The logo was concise, with just the word “Toyota” in a black serif font and caps.

1969: The logo was modernized by changing the font to Helvetica with decreased letter spacing.

1970: The logo was transformed once again to increase readability by adding more space between the letters. The logo also changed from black to red.

1989: The iconic Toyota symbol was introduced in time for the company’s 50th anniversary. The company name is encrypted within the three ovals of the symbol.

2020: The most recent change to the Toyota logo involves removing the company name and leaving the symbol alone.

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What’s behind the Toyota logo design?

The logo design was influenced by three key elements:

The emblem: At first glance, the logo looks like a steering wheel, but it has other hidden meanings:

The company’s name is encrypted in the three ovals of the logo

The two overlapping ovals represent the heart of the customer, the company, and the relationship between the two. The outer oval symbolizes Toyota being embraced by the world.

The font: The Toyota name is often found in a sans serif font for a clean and modern look that is also easy to read.

The color: The Toyota logo has switched between red and black over the years.

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How to save money on car insurance for your Toyota

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