The
current Toyota mark was introduced in October 1989 to commemorate the 50th year
of the company. The development of the current logo took about five years, as
it was necessary to develop a suitable logo to integrate with the rising
profile of Toyota in foreign countries.
There
were two motivating factors in designing the logo: recognition from a distance
announcing the "arrival of Toyota", and a logo with a strong visual
impact that stands out from other automobiles.
There are three ovals in the
logo that are combined in a horizontally symmetrical configuration. The two
perpendicular ovals inside the larger oval represent the heart of the customer
and the heart of the company. They are overlapped to represent a mutually
beneficial relationship and trust between each other.
The
overlapping of the two perpendicular ovals inside the outer oval symbolize
"T" for Toyota, as well as a steering wheel, representing the vehicle
itself. The outer oval symbolizes the world embracing Toyota. Each oval is
contoured with different stroke thicknesses, like the "brush" art
known in Japanese culture.
The space in the background
within the logo exhibits the "infinite values" which Toyota conveys
to its customers: superb quality, value beyond expectation, joy of driving,
innovation, and integrity in safety, the environment and social responsibility. Source:
Toyota Global
