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Establishment ofTOYOTA Material Handling CompanyApril 2001 saw a radical restructuring of the Toyota

TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATIONGroup’s materials handling equipment business,consisting of industrial equipment and materials
handling systems. The changes included theestablishment of TOYOTA Material Handling
Company,* incorporating the sales and marketing
operations of Toyota Motor Corporation’s (“TMC’s” )industrial equipment sales division. TOYOTA Material
Handling Company will operate as an “in-housecorporate entity” within Toyota Industries.

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

From 1956, when the first TOYOTA-brand forklift
truck was launched, TMC had been responsible for thesales and marketing of materials handling equipment
developed and manufactured by Toyota Industries.
This arrangement changed on April 1, 2001, whenMr. Cho, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (left) andMr. Ishikawa, President of Toyota Industries (right) shakehands after signing the agreement of the handover ofTMC’s industrial equipment division to Toyota Industries.

Toyota Industries formally assumed responsibility forall materials handling equipment operations.
This consolidation positions materials handlingseparate entity within the Toyota Industries Group,equipment as a core business within Toyota Industries,

and will cooperate globally with TOYOTA Material

and underlines its status as one of the world’s leading

Handling Company as an equal strategic partner. We

comprehensive manufacturers in the field. The

are eager to further exploit the strong nameintegration of development and manufacturing

recognition of BT brands in Europe and the U.S.

expertise with strong sales and marketing capabilities

The assets transferred from TMC to Toyota

will make for more flexible management, fasterIndustries include: Goodwill, trademarks and licenses;

decision-making and strengthened global

and part or all of the share of, or equity investments in,competitiveness.

domestic and overseas sales subsidiaries and affiliates,

TOYOTA Material Handling Company will act as anoverseas manufacturing affiliates, etc. To ensure thatindependent company, with its own management, andthe consolidation was complete, Toyota Industries

will be judged on criteria such as return on assets asalso absorbed the Industrial Equipment Division ofwell as earnings and sales.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., and transferred it toIn another strategic move, we acquired BTIndustries in June 2000. BT Industries will remain aTOYOTA Material Handling Company.
Competition in the materials handling equipment

Industrial equipment made by Toyota Industries is soldunder the brand name of TOYOTA L&F (Logistics andForklifts) in Japan, which refers to materials handlingsystems and industrial vehicles and equipment. Outside
Japan, the signature of TOYOTA INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
is used.

a global leader distinguished by our comprehensive

alliances taking place on a global scale. Markets inlineup, superior technologies and responsiveness toadvanced countries are almost mature, and demandcustomer needs.

tends to be cyclical. By assuming the materials
handling equipment operations of TMC and acquiring
BT Industries, we intend to strengthen our position as* TOYOTA Material Handling Company is simply the name of a divisionof Toyota Industries, not a legally incorporated entity.

TOYOTA Material Handling Customer Centerengineers at the center are able to provide total

Customer Center opened for business. The center,materials handling solutions, from efficient equipment

located in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, markets

layout to inventory analysis. Costing a total of ¥2.3

TOYOTA Material Handling Company’s products andbillion, the four-story showroom has a total floor

also offers consulting services.

space of 6,300 square meters.

Supported by Toyota Industries’ accumulated know-Admittance is, in principle, by appointment only.

how and a broad lineup of hardware, including forklift
trucks, racks and materials handling systems, theTOYOTA Material Handling
Customer Center

ANNUAL REPORT 2001

In late April of 2001, the TOYOTA Material Handling

TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION

market is intensifying, with mergers, acquisitions and19