The origin of the Toyota Group - From here-

In 1911, Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota Group established Toyoda Jido Shokufu Kojo(Toyoda Automatic Weaving Mill), here in Sako, Nagoya-City, for the research and development of automatic looms. He enlarged this mill and reorganized it into Toyoda Boshoku Co., Ltd.(Toyoda Spinning and Weaving Co., Ltd.) in 1918.

Sakichi perfected the Non-stop Shuttle-change Toyoda Automatic Loom, Type G in 1924 at this factory. The Type G automatic loom came to be regarded as the highest performance automatic loom in the world at the time. In 1926, he established Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. for the mass-production of this loom in Kariya-Town (present Kariya-City). This company became the new nucleus of the growth of the Toyota group. Sakichi's son, Kiichiro Toyoda began the research of automobiles and materials in Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. He launched the automobile business in 1935 and founded Toyoda Motor Co., Ltd. in 1937 in Koromo-Town (present Toyota-City).

The TOYOTA Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology was established on June 11, 1994, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kichiro Toyoda, in order to conserve and open to the public. Sakichi who devoted his life to the invention of looms achieved his work with "the spirit of being studious and creative", and Kiichiro poured his passion into "making things" eagerly. It is the prime mission of this museum to convey the importance of them to a society widely.