After battling a turbulent four years, Toyota hopes to leave massive recalls, supply chain problems, and a strong Japanese Yen behind them, in an attempt to get back on track to growth expected before the crises. In 2012, Toyota regained its title as the largest automobile manufacturer as sales surpassed both General Motors and Volkswagen. This year is expected to be even bigger, starting with the introduction of newly designed Toyota and Lexus models.

Through line closures and reorganization, Toyota hopes to reduce its production capacity in Japan by approximately one million by 2014. It has increased overseas production by opening new factories and expanding existing ones in the United States, China, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Brazil. Toyota has also overhauled its quality control system, giving broader powers to regional executives in North America, Europe and Asia, allowing customer complaints to be tracked more closely and recalls to be issued more quickly. According Toyota chief executive Akio Toyoda, the automobile manufacturer has been “Reborn”.