Given the intense level of competition in the automotive market, it is essential for companies to cultivate a positive public image. Sakichi Toyoda established Toyota in the 1860s. Initially, the corporation was known as Toyoda, after the surname of its founder. Toyoda needed a brand identity when it first began producing automobiles. Therefore, the initial iteration of Toyota's logo, which at the time was simply referred to as Toyoda, was a badge-style logo.

The design that was selected, which was reminiscent of a diamond, was meant to symbolize not only clarity but also the dependability of the brand. The Sans-serif font was used to display the carmaker's name. Toyoda chose to use Roman capital letters instead of Japanese characters for their first logo. However, the Japanese company didn't use the original logo for very long.

Toyoda was renamed Toyota in 1936 for the sole reason that its new name would be much easier to pronounce and remember. In addition, the letter "d" was transformed into a "t" since it takes only eight strokes to write the word, which is a sign of good fortune. Let's now see how their logo has transformed since then.

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The Second Version Of The Toyota Logo Was Unveiled In 1949

Toyota Logo
Via: Wikimedia Commons

The new logo's circular form alludes to the sun, which is shown prominently on the Japanese flag and has major cultural meaning and thus serves as a representation of the brand. Japanese Katakana characters were also featured in the logo. What's more, the usage of circles in logos conveys a sense of wholeness, unity, and harmony, as indicated by the symbolism of shapes. In the years that followed, a new logo was introduced, and it was affixed to all the vehicles that were sold under the Toyota brand.

After that, Toyota decided to go with a much more straightforward method and adopt a wordmark logo. This would result in Toyota being written in black Times New Roman capital letters against a white background. Toyota ultimately stuck with the same layout but used a font that was reminiscent of Sole Sans Extended. Previously-present serifs have been eliminated. In 1978, the designers brought back the red and made the title easier to see and read by spacing out the letters a bit.

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A New Logo Was Introduced In 1989 To Celebrate Toyota's 50th Anniversary

Toyota Logo
Via: Flickr

Yes, the well-known logo that everyone recognizes. The company continues to make use of its logo even today. As such, the new logo incorporated a combination of three different ovals. Toyota says that its designers worked on the new logo for five years to make sure it would be successful in all markets around the world. In October 1989, the Toyota Celsior, the company's flagship luxury model, was the first to sport the new three-oval logo. All subsequent Toyota models got the updated badge shortly afterward.

The two smaller ovals inside the broader oval stand for the company's and the customer's hearts, respectively. They are positioned so that they overlap to signify a partnership and trust. Toyota's logo, a "T" formed by the meeting of two perpendicular ovals within a larger oval, also represents a vehicle's steering wheel. The broader oval also signifies Toyota's global reach. Taking cues from traditional "brush" art from Japan, the ovals are shaped with varying stroke thicknesses.

As an extra effect, Toyota sought to create a logo that would identify a Toyota vehicle at a glance. Toyota accomplished this by making sure that the logo looks the same when seen normally and when seen inversed, like through a rearview mirror. Interestingly, another message is hidden in the logo: it contains every letter of the company's name.

Toyota Logo
Via: Flickr

In 2005, a 3D-rendered, more pronounced gray logo was introduced in Europe and Japan. It was used in conjunction with the wordmark from 1978 and the logo from 1989. A new, more contemporary logo debuted in 2019. The Toyota emblem has been changed to white on a red background next to the brand name. It is presently being utilized in commercials airing in the USA.

Toyota unveiled its new brand design in Europe on July 20, 2020. The logo and typeface have been updated to reflect the company's new direction. The new design language was created to accommodate the growing number of customers who seek out Toyota's wide variety of mobility options. The new Toyota logo is now more of a straightforward, two-dimensional form, while the wordmark has been taken down.

Toyota Logo
Via: Toyota

Overall, you get a sense of modernism and openness. Toyota Type, a new custom typeface, is also part of the rebranded visual identity. To sum it up, when it comes to automobile logos, the Toyota emblem is unrivaled as one of the most intricately created. On the other hand, Toyota is a great example of a brand that places a premium on a well-designed logo.