3 Times Toyota Was Ahead Of The Curve
Sometimes, groundbreaking ideas emerge when you least anticipate them, even if it takes some time for them to catch on. For instance, compact discs were launched back in 1982, but they didn’t become the top-selling music format until 1991. At Toyota, innovation is constant—pushing boundaries is simply part of their DNA. In that same spirit, here are three instances where Toyota was ahead of the game. Inside Toyota’s Comprehensive Automobile Traffic Control System In the early 2000s, you could buy a Land Cruiser with built-in navigation. Nowadays, Toyota’s Entune system offers integrated navigation along with various other tech features. However, more than four decades ago, Toyota pioneered a sophisticated traffic management system aimed at easing congestion—long before such innovations would become mainstream. Toyota’s Comprehensive Automobile Traffic Control System (CATCS) was truly remarkable for its era. So how did it function? According to Toyota, “The system used a central control room computer to gather road traffic data, which was then sent to cars equipped with receivers. Drivers followed instructions from the system to bypass congested areas and take smoother, less busy routes.†This system worked quite effectively, alleviating traffic jams and offering drivers alternative paths when needed. Although the CATCS never reached full-scale production, it fueled momentum for the development of future technologies. With the Toyota Production System (TPS), Toyota took a non-traditional approach to manufacturing cars—and it paid off big time. This unique management philosophy is rooted in two key principles: Much of the TPS was refined through trial and error during the 1940s and 50s before being fully implemented across all plants in the 1960s. Over the years, the TPS has enabled Toyota to achieve three critical goals: While we’ve tried to simplify the TPS, you can find more detailed explanations here. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Prius transformed the hybrid vehicle market. Since its introduction in 1997, Toyota has sold over a million units globally. However, another Toyota hybrid beats the Prius by twenty years. Image via Wikimedia Commons We’re talking about the Sports Gas Turbine Hybrid, a prototype car built by Toyota in 1977. Based on the Toyota Sports 800, this roadster featured a gas turbine engine linked to a generator powering an electric motor connected to the 20-speed transmission. Although this innovative vehicle never went into production, it laid the foundation for future eco-friendly models. 43 Tv Case,Generoustelevision Case,Flat Screen Television Case,Tv Protective Case Jiangsu Hengye Precision Technology Co.,Ltd , https://www.hengyejmtv.comTraffic Management Systems
The Toyota Production System
Hybrid Vehicles
