My Toyota and Tacoma Web Pages: History of the Toyota Tacoma and It's Predecessor

My Toyota and Tacoma Web Pages
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3.3 History of the Toyota Tacoma and It's Predecessor

The history of Toyota Trucks reads like a manual for success. In fact, throughout its many incarnations, the Toyota compact truck has always been incredibly popular, and Tacoma is no exception.

"If there is a quintessential compact pickup truck, it's the Toyota ... the new Tacoma is very much what Toyota pickups have always been, only better." -- AutoWeek, January 15, 1996.

With a name that alludes to the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest, the Tacoma hails from the cooperative efforts of two great cultures. We assemble it in Fremont, California, using production methods widely regarded as the world's most efficient.

1964: Toyota imports its first truck into the U.S. - the Stout.

1965: Toyota introduces the Hi-Lux pickup.

1975: The Toyota SR5 Sport Truck makes its debut.

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1979: Toyota's 4x4 pickups come to America and become the number one-selling compact 4x4 truck in the U.S.

1984: Toyota introduces its Xtracab pickups.

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1989: All-new models arrive with more aerodynamic bodies, car-like interiors and the availability of 4WDemand with automatic locking front hubs.

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1995: The all-new Toyota Tacoma makes its debut in the spring. Largely designed at Calty, Toyota's Southern California design center, it's also assembled in California at New United Motors Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI).

1996: The Tacoma becomes the first compact truck to offer an available locking rear differential.

1997: The 4x2 gets a new front bumper and grille design.
Toyota compact pickups are proclaimed the "Best Compact Pickup in Initial Quality for Five of the Last Six Years" in J.D. Power and Associates 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997 Initial Quality Studies^sm. (1997 Study based on a total of 43,752 consumer responses indicating owner-reported problems during the first 90 days of ownership.)

1998: The PreRunner is introduced, establishing a new class of pickup. The 4x4 also gets a new front bumper and grille design.
The Tacoma now includes a passenger-side air bag with a cut-off switch, and new design features and colors enhance its rugged look.

1999: Tacoma continues to lead the way in the compact pickup class with thoughtful additions like seat belt pretensioners and force limiters.

2000: The ever-popular Tacoma lineup continues to grow with the introduction of the StepSide, a 4x2 that's all about style and attitude.

2001: The spacious 4-door Double Cab and the red-hot S-Runner join the unbreakable Tacoma family.

Frame last updated: January 17, 2009

Frame layout version: July 2008