Toyota tops global forklift sales for seventh time, moving $8 billion in machinery last year
November 17, 2009
Toyota has topped global forklift sales for the seventh time, moving about $8 billion in machinery last year.
German trade magazine Logistik Journal has named Toyota Industries Corporation as the number one supplier of materials handling equipment for the seventh time.
Linde and Jungheinrich were named second and third on the global sales list.
Toyota’s total net sales in the 2008 calendar year exceeded 12 billion Euro for its five business divisions, including automotive, logistics, textile machinery and material handling equipment.
The material handling division – Toyota Material Handling Group – has five regional organisations covering Japan, China, North America, Europe and an ‘International’ division, including Toyota Materials Handling Australia.
It is the market leader in Japan and North America (and Australia in counter-balance forklift trucks) with more than 20 percent market share.
Australian President Steve Harper credits the Toyota’s acquisition of BT and Raymond in 2000 for the result.
“Yet another number one ranking simply reaffirms Toyota’s commitment to quality, safety, reliability and the environment – and that is there for all to see in our forklifts and warehouse equipment,” he says.
“Another cornerstone of success has been TICO’s industry-leading investment in research and development. It has also developed the world’s best manufacturing system, known as the Toyota Production System.
“Those are the keys to Toyota maintaining its industry-leading reputation for reliability, quality and safety.”
Toyota has been exporting forklift trucks from Japan since 1958 and entered the Australian market ten years later. The company has led the Australian counter-balance forklift market continuously for 22 years.