TOYOTA (GB) PLC TIME LINE
Toyota (GB) PLC is the company responsible for sales, marketing, after sales and customer relations for Toyota and Lexus in the UK, employing around 400 people at a landmark headquarters building in Surrey. The sales performance over the past decade has consolidated the UK’s position as one of Toyota’s strongest European markets. The manufacturing operations in the UK at Burnaston and Deeside are run by Toyota Motors UK (TMUK), a sister company to TGB. Toyota began importing vehicles into the UK in 1965 through an agreement with a small family firm, Pride and Clark. In 1967 the company changed its name to Toyota (GB) Ltd and in 1978 became part of the Inchcape group, a public company with international interests in a wide range of automotive businesses. In 1998, Toyota’s agreement with Inchcape came to an end and Toyota Motor Corporation took a 51 per cent majority shareholding in Toyota (GB) Ltd. In 1999, the company became a Public Limited Company and in 2000 TMC took complete ownership of Toyota (GB) PLC.