From sketchbook to showroom

Design is taken very seriously by Toyota. People only buy cars that look good and are a pleasure to own. This is why Toyota designers on three continents explore human ideas, dreams and desires by developing advanced concept cars and attractive new technologies to add value to people's lives. Toyota hopes you will enjoy the fruits of their work!

European Design Development

In 2000, Toyota opened its European Design Development facility in the South of France to help understand the local influences and styles of the customers it wants to buy its cars. Meet the team that designed the award-winning Yaris, Corolla, Corolla Verso, Avensis and Land Cruiser models. More...

Toyota Concept Cars

The latest Toyota Motor Triathlon Race Car and FINE-N concept cars are a great chance to show customers what Toyota is planning in the future. More...

“The making of MR2”

Read the backroom story behind the creation of a roadster legend. Read how Toyota designers, headed by Chief Engineer Tadashi Nakagawa, gave MR2 its legendary pin-sharp handling. More...

Interested in becoming a car designer?

Every Toyota starts out life as a series of sketches which are used to define a design direction that will be brought to life in a unique hand-shaped sculpture - the clay model. After approval from the board, it is later reproduced many thousands of times in the manufacturing plant. Discover what it takes to become a designer and how to get involved in this fascinating process. More...

Toyota Design Centre Locations:

Toyota Europe Design Development (ED²)
Opened: 2000
Location: Nice, France
Activities: Exterior/Interior/Colour design More...

Calty Design Research, Inc.
Opened: 1973.
Calty was a brave move by Toyota. When it opened, no other car company had a design studio in southern California. Since then Southern California has become populated with automotive design studios at a rapid rate.
Location: Newport Beach, California
Activities: Exterior/Interior/Colour design More...

Head Office Technical Centre
Opened: 1954
Location: Tokyo City, Japan
Activities: Planning and design of products, prototype manufacture, and vehicle evaluation Responsible for all fields including vehicle planning, design, engineering, and evaluation. In addition, the centre handles such areas as safety, energy conservation and environmental technologies. More...