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Toyota offers a robust lineup of cars in North America, but while the Crown may not be one of them, that wasn’t always the case. And this year, the company’s longest-running nameplate is marking its sixtieth anniversary.
First introduced way back in 1955, the Crown was Toyota’s first major export. It became the first Japanese passenger car to reach the US market when the first-generation Crown was launched here in 1958, and marked the company’s arrival in Europe when the second-gen model arrived in Denmark in 1963. It started building the Crown in Australia in 1967 and in China more recently in 2005.
The Crown is now on its fourteenth generation, and to mark its birthday, Toyota is launching the sedan for a limited time only in sky blue and bright green.
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Jan. 08, 2015
Toyota ‘Crown’ Turns 60
Sixty years ago this week, Toyota launched the “Crown”, a luxury sedan that would go on to become the company’s longest-running passenger-car nameplate and a significant vehicle in the history of the Japanese automobile industry.
In 1958 the Crown became the first Japanese passenger car to be exported to the United States, and also started Toyota’s passenger car exports to Africa in 1957 and Europe in 1962. Now in its 14th generation, its foremost models are the Crown Royal deluxe saloon and the Crown Athlete sports sedan, both with hybrid powertrain options.
In Japan, Toyota is marking the anniversary with the introduction of limited-time-only sky blue and bright green exterior body colors.
Toyota Crown Milestones
January 1955 | First generation launched |
April 1957 | Exported to Ethiopia, Africa |
August 1958 | Exported to the United States |
October 1962 | Second generation launched |
December 1963 | Exported to Denmark, Europe |
February 1965 | Exported to Canada |
February 1967 | Assembly begins in Australia |
September 1967 | Third generation launched |
February 1971 | Fourth generation launched |
October 1974 | Fifth generation launched |
September 1979 | Sixth generation launched |
August 1983 | Seventh generation launched |
September 1987 | Eighth generation launched |
October 1991 | Ninth generation launched |
December 1995 | 10th generation launched |
October 2001 | 11th generation launched |
December 2003 | 12th generation launched |
March 2005 | Production begins in China |
February 2008 | 13th generation launched |
December 2012 | 14th generation launched |