Toyota established Toyota Motor Credit Corp. (TMCC) in 1982, a time of bright neon clothes, video arcades, early personal computers, VCRs and lively pop music.

A few months later, the first vehicle financed by the new captive actually was a used car when Burt Toyota in Denver delivered a Toyota Corolla.

Now with four decades of financing and portfolio building, TMCC is celebrating 40 years of growth and success.

As of this month, TMCC — which operates under the brand names of Toyota Financial Services, Lexus Financial Services, Mazda Financial Services, Bass Pro Shops Financial Services and KINTO in the United States — owns a portfolio of nearly 5 million customer accounts, more than 10 million voluntary protection product agreements in force and assets in excess of $135 billion.

“We’d never have been able to achieve such phenomenal success or longevity without the incredible efforts of all our team members over the years,” TMCC president and CEO Mark Templin said in a news release. “Their efforts, coupled with exceptional support from our Toyota, Lexus and private label dealers, as well as our fantastic partners at Toyota Motor North America, have allowed us to thrive.

“We’re looking forward to our next 40 years of supporting dealer needs and helping customers obtain the vehicle of their choice,” Templin continued.

After financing that Corolla back in 1983, TMCC continued a steady pace of expansion, which the captive recapped in the news release:

1984 – TMCC company opens its first branch office in Irvine, Calif.

1985 – Dealer wholesale financing is introduced

1986 – The company expands its product lineup with the launch of Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS)

1987 – Dealer real estate and capital lending programs are introduced

1991 – Lexus Financial Services is established

1996 – Toyota Credit de Puerto Rico begins operations

1998 – The company enters the digital age with the launch of its first online credit application

1999 – Toyota Motor Credit Corporation and Toyota Motor Insurance Services create the umbrella brand Toyota Financial Services (TFS)

2001 – The toyotafinancial.com website launches

2002 – The lexusfinancial.com site goes live

2004 – Partner entity Toyota Financial Savings Bank (TFSB) begins operations

2005 – TFSB introduces the Lexus Pursuits Visa credit card

2007 – The company grows to more than 3,000 team members

2008 – Toyota Rewards Visa credit card launches

2012 – TMCC celebrates 30 years in business

2013 – TMCC issues its first Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Bond, demonstrating that Toyota’s commitment to diversity and inclusion permeates all aspects of its business

2014 – TMCC issues its first asset-backed Green Bond

2017 – TMCC relocates its headquarters to Plano, Texas, partnering with Toyota Motor North America

2018 – The company introduces its IncomeDriver Notes retail program for investors

2019 – The company rolls out private label financing with Mazda as its first client

2020 – Mazda Financial Services begins consumer retail and lease business

2021 – The company expands its private label business to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

“Our goal has always been to provide the best possible service in every interaction,” TMCC senior vice president and chief operating officer Alec Hagey said. “Our value proposition to dealers is based on enhancing customer loyalty to the brand, and we do that by going the extra mile to keep customers satisfied.”

As TMCC has grown, the company also highlighted it commitment to supporting our communities.

The company has received recognition from the Points of Light Foundation, repeatedly being included on the Civic 50 list of the most community-minded organizations in the nation.

TMCC has long supported the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Junior Achievement. And, in 2021, it launched the Toyota Leadership Academy, created in partnership with the Lancaster Independent School District in North Texas.

The Toyota Leadership Academy is designed to prepare students for personal, academic and professional success by providing a specialized curriculum designed to increase high school graduation rates; improve college, career and leadership readiness; and introduce students to job opportunities in the global workforce.

“Toyota Motor Credit Corporation isn’t just a company — we’re a group of individuals united by our shared values,” said Ellen Farrell, chief legal and compliance officer and sponsor of the Toyota Leadership Academy program. “We recognize that we only truly attain our full potential when we make a positive impact on those around us.

“Community involvement has been integral to our organization from the beginning. That’s complemented by our commitment to diversity and inclusion as we strive to demonstrate ‘respect for people’ in all that we do. These principles will continue to serve as cornerstones as we set our sights on the future,” Farrell went on to say.