The Guiding Principles at Toyota reflect the kind of company that Toyota seeks to be. The Toyota Way 2001 clarifies the values and business methods that all employees should embrace in order to carry out the Guiding Principles at Toyota throughout the company's global activities.
With the rapid growth, diversification and globalization of Toyota in the past decade, the values and business methods that had been passed on as implicit knowledge were identified and defined in 2001. Toyota is preparing to operate as a truly global company, guided by a common corporate culture.