Is the Toyota Crown made in Japan?
Yes. The current Toyota Crown is manufactured in Japan, with assembly concentrated at Toyota's Motomachi plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The model remains closely tied to Japan, though its history includes limited overseas exposure through exports and imports.
Current production location
Here are the essential facts about where the Crown is built today:
- Current generation Crown is assembled at Toyota's Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
- The Motomachi Plant has a long track record of building premium models for the Japanese market and select export variants.
- Production focuses on hybrid configurations and advanced safety/tech features, with most sales concentrated in Japan.
Taken together, the Crown's production today is anchored in Japan, reflecting its role as a flagship model for Toyota's domestic lineup.
Motomachi Plant at a glance
The Motomachi Plant, located in the city of Toyota in Aichi Prefecture, has historically handled premium and specialty models for Toyota. It continues to support Crown assembly alongside other high-end models, prioritizing hybrid systems and next-generation safety technology to suit Japanese showroom standards and selected export needs.
Historical context: Crown production over time
A look back at how production locations have varied across generations:
- Earlier Crown generations were typically built in Japan, at dedicated plants tasked with the model's production.
- Exports of the Crown have been limited compared with mass-market Toyota models, with the car primarily marketed in Japan and via limited import channels in a few overseas markets.
- In recent decades, Toyota has not widely outsourced Crown production to plants outside Japan, reinforcing its status as a Japan-centered flagship.
In short, the Crown's manufacturing spine has remained in Japan, with overseas availability driven by imports rather than local assembly.
Notes on overseas availability
While some Crown variants have appeared in markets outside Japan through imports or special arrangements, those cars were produced for those regions by Japan-based assembly lines rather than being locally manufactured abroad.
Summary
The Toyota Crown is manufactured in Japan, with the current generation assembled at the Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Its identity as a Japan-rooted luxury sedan remains strong, and while some markets can access Crown models through imports or limited export arrangements, mass production outside Japan is not the norm.
How do I know if my Toyota is Japan or USA built?
You can tell if your Toyota is built in Japan or the USA by checking the first character of the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN); 'J' indicates Japan, while '1', '4', or '5' indicate the USA. The VIN can be found on the driver-side dashboard or door jamb.
Method 1: Check the VIN
- Locate the VIN: Find the 17-character VIN on the dashboard (visible through the windshield) or on the sticker on the driver's side door jamb.
- Examine the first character: Look at the very first letter of the VIN.
- 'J': The vehicle was assembled in Japan.
- '1', '4', or '5': The vehicle was assembled in the United States.
- Other country codes: For your reference, other common codes are: '2' for Canada, and '3' for Mexico.
Method 2: Check the window sticker (if available)
- Find the original sticker: If you have the original window sticker, also known as the Monroney label, look for a section that states the "Final Assembly Point" or "Country of Origin".
Method 3: Check the 11th digit for specific models (e.g., RAV4)
- For certain models, such as the RAV4, the 11th digit of the VIN can also specify the assembly plant. An 'A' or 'T' can indicate an American plant, while 'J' can indicate a Japanese plant.
Where are Toyota crowns assembled?
The Toyota Crown is made in Japan at the Tsutsumi plant in Aichi. All Crown models are produced there, a factor that contributes to the vehicle's reputation for high build quality and precision, notes this YouTube video.
- Manufacturing plant: All current Toyota Crown models, including the sedan and the Crown Signia SUV, are manufactured at the Tsutsumi plant in Japan.
- Quality: The Japanese origin and manufacturing location are associated with a high level of quality in the Crown's fit and finish, which is comparable to Lexus vehicles.
Are Toyota Crowns made in Japan?
The Toyota Crown (Japanese: トヨタ・クラウン, Hepburn: Toyota Kuraun) is an automobile which has been produced by Toyota in Japan since 1955.
Which Toyota models are built in Japan?
Several Toyota models, including the Mirai, 86, Land Cruiser, and 4Runner, are exclusively made in Japan. Other models like the Prius, Camry, Corolla, and RAV4 are also produced in Japan, though some versions of these vehicles may also be made in other countries like the USA.
Exclusively or primarily made in Japan
- 4Runner: Built in Japan at the Tahara or Hino plants.
- 86: Exclusively made in Japan.
- Land Cruiser: Exclusively made in Japan.
- Mirai: Exclusively made in Japan.
- Century: Made in Japan.
- GR Corolla and GR Yaris: Built in Japan.
- Crown: Various versions are manufactured in Japan.
- Noah and Voxy: Made in Japan.
- Prius: Exclusively or primarily made in Japan for certain markets, with the hybrid models being a key example.
Made in Japan and other countries
- Camry: Produced in Japan and the USA; some trim levels (like AWD and V6) are made in the US, while some hybrid versions are built in Japan.
- Corolla: Manufactured in both Japan and the USA, depending on the model and market. Japan-made Corolla Hybrids are a prominent example.
- RAV4: Produced in Japan and the USA. The RAV4 Prime (plug-in hybrid) is exclusively built in Japan.
- Harrier: Produced in Japan.
- Corolla Cross: Produced in Japan.
How to check if a Toyota was built in Japan
- VIN number: The 11th digit of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) indicates the assembly plant. If it is the letter "J," the vehicle was assembled in Japan.
