Why Doesn't Toyota Make Motorcycles?

Toyota is among the biggest automobile manufacturers in the world. It is a proud Japanese brand that sells cars worldwide. Most people mistakenly assume Toyota is a part of the Big Four Japanese firms. However, it isn’t.

Big Four is a term used to describe the top four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers that took over the global motorcycle market. These Japanese motorcycle brands include:

• Honada

• Yamaha

• Kawasaki

• Suzuki

People are curious to know why Toyota did not enter the motorcycle market. Why has it never tried competing with other Japanese brands or collaborated with them to make a mark in the motorcycle industry? Continue reading this article to learn why Toyota doesn’t make motorcycles.

For those who don’t know, Toyota once got into this field. The company produced motorcycles back in the 1950s and 1960s. You can’t blame people for not knowing that, considering most of us were not born then.

In 1949, Toyota established a subsidiary called “Toyo Motos” to produce Toyota motorcycles. A talented engineer, Kazuo Kawamata, got a job at Toyota Research Lab in 1942. He got in contact with Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda. Later, he started working on building engines to install on bicycles.

The company finally started the motorcycle production in 1949 and continued doing it for 11 years. The company, Toyo Motor, offered several concept Toyota motorcycles and low-powered models during its operational phase. The engines of these bikes were no more than 50-256 cc.

It is not like Toyota has never tried. It did, but the company later discovered that it was not a cup of tea. Many competitors started at that time.

After World War II, there was a huge demand for low-cost transportation. Motorcycles became a very attractive option for those looking for affordable transportation.

At the same time, Toyota started doing a lot of research and took practical steps. However, it failed due to several reliability issues. The idea of Toyota motorcycles didn't prove to be successful. It may be due to not being consistent. As a result, Toyota stopped producing motorcycles in 1960. It turned out that Honda gave Toyota the toughest competition.

There are currently many automobile manufacturers in the world which produce both cars and motorcycles. Instead, they have a wide range of automobiles and other products, including the top Japanese manufacturers. These automobile marques include BMW, Honda, and Suzuki.

There is a list of never-ending motorcycle brands among the motorcycle industry's top players. Some of the notable names include:

• Harley-Davidson

• Honda

• Yamaha

• Kawasaki

• Suzuki

• BMW

• Ducati

• KTM

• Indian Motorcycle

• Royal Enfield

Entering the motorcycle market at this time will require a lot of investment. However, it may still not guarantee success.

Toyota is currently focussing on certain mobility projects. These projects also have a wide market worldwide and better opportunities.

We can see that Toyota is fully invested in innovating and developing its core automobile products, including cars, SUVs, and trucks. It has a firm market share and a strong reputation in this field.

The brand wants to continue excelling in what it does best. It is never a bad idea to focus primarily on your core competencies.

Toyota doesn’t want to look back and repent on its decision why it shut down Toyo Motors. The company doesn’t seem to mourn its decision. It is doing great in the automobile manufacturing industry.

Toyota has become a huge brand worldwide. It makes cars for almost every part of the world and captures every market worldwide. It has a huge reputation in car manufacturing and brings innovation to what it does.

It is not like Toyota has failed in the motorcycling industry. The company has made a strategic decision not to enter the market. However, there is no doubt that the motorcycling industry has much potential, and Toyota has had the chance to stand out.

As oCurrentlyyota is making huge investments in electric cars and hybrid technology. The company is working on several other automotive ventures. Considering its strategic and long-term goals, Toyota doesn’t seem to enter the motorcycle market any sooner.

Toyota is a big name in the automotive industry. It has a specific brand image of producing one of the most reliable, safe, and family-oriented vehicles.

On the other hand, motorcycles don’t seem to fit Toyota’s brand image. Motorcycles are more individualistic, sportier, and fun. The company will need to completely redesign its brand strategies and marketing tactics.

On the global level, Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer. It is also among the most reliable motorcycle brands with a fanbase all over the world. Honda motorcycles are highly trusted, and people love them due to their simplicity, modern tech package, affordability, and low-cost maintenance.

Honda also produces and sells the most number of motorcycles around the world. Though the competition is fierce in the motorcycling market, Honda doesn’t seem to slow down. It has fought with every giant motorcycle brand throughout its journey and has become victorious every time.

The future also seems to be very bright for Honda. However, there is just one concern that has recently shocked the motorcycling world. The company has announced that it will kill all its gas motorcycles by 2040.

It is surely a big step taken by one of the major motorcycle producers, considering it is the only option for a better environment.

No, Suzuki is not owned by Toyota. Both are different brands. Toyota is an automotive manufacturer specializing in producing cars, SUVs, and trucks.

On the other hand, Suzuki is specialized in producing cars and motorcycles. Both these brands produce unique products of their own.

However, both Toyota and Suzuki get some of their components made by a manufacturer known as Aisin, which is a subsidiary owned by Toyota Group.

Royal Enfield is considered to be the oldest motorcycle brand on this planet. It was established in 1901. Nonetheless, the research and development started long ago, in the nineteenth century. There were many individuals or groups of engineers working under a small garage who were making efforts to design and build motorcycles.

It was the time when motorcycles were known as mopeds. They were bicycles equipped with small engines.

Another ancient motorcyclimotorcycleIndian motorcycle, which was also established in1901. However, this American motorcycle brand was shut down several times due to facing severe challenges.

The Honda Super Cub is the most sold motorcycle in the US. It also holds the record of being the most-produced motorcycle in the world.

Honda changed the game in the U.S. with its remarkable marketing and branding strategy. The Honda Super Cub played a huge role in making Honda a big player in the US motorcycling scene.

You must have heard the very popular slogan by Honda:

This was the game changer for Honda to invade the US motorcycle market.

There may be several reasons why it is not the right time for Toyota to enter the motorcycling market. Nevertheless, you never know what the future holds.

Maybe one day, producing motorcycles may align with the company’s objectives, and Toyota start producing motorcycles. Not to mention, Toyota has a huge brand name, and it will be advantageous for the brand to market its motorcycles.

If you ask random motorcyclists about what he/she thinks of a Toyota motorcycle, you are more likely to get a positive response. People will love to see Toyota producing motorcycles. It is interesting to see what Toyota’s take on a motorcycle would be.