Toyota Material Handling
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Material handling equipment manufacturing and distribution |
| Predecessor | Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.; Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing |
| Founded | January 2020 |
| Fate | Merger of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. and Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Indiana , United States |
Area served | North America (United States and Canada) |
Key people | Jeff Rufener (President and CEO) |
| Products | Forklifts (electric, internal combustion, compressed natural gas), pallet jacks, tow tractors, order pickers, container handlers, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), reach trucks, Aichi aerial work platforms (scissor and boom lifts) |
| Owner | Toyota Industries Corporation |
| Parent | Toyota Material Handling North America |
Toyota Material Handling, Inc. (TMH), commonly referred to as Toyota Forklift, is a manufacturer and distributor based in the United States specializing in forklifts and tow tractors, with its headquarters located in Columbus, Indiana. TMH holds exclusive rights to distribute Aichi aerial work platforms—such as scissor and boom lifts—throughout the U.S. As a subsidiary of Toyota Industries Corporation, it has maintained its position as North America's foremost lift truck supplier since 2002.
Officially established in January 2020, TMH emerged from the consolidation of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. and Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing. It functions under the umbrella of Toyota Material Handling North America, part of Toyota Industries Corporation.
History
The inception of Toyota’s lift truck dates back to 1956 in Japan, with its initial entry into the American market occurring in 1967 via forklift sales and dealership establishments. Originally integrated within Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., forklift operations were separated into an independent entity named Toyota Industrial Trucks, U.S.A., Inc. in 1975, headquartered in Carson, California.
In 1988, Toyota founded Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) in Columbus, Indiana. Ownership was divided with Toyoda Automatic Loom Works (now known as Toyota Industries) holding 80%, and Toyota Motor Corporation retaining 20%. This $40 million facility, spanning 280,000 square feet, commenced forklift manufacturing in 1990. By 1996, production reached the milestone of 50,000 forklifts and doubled to 100,000 units by 1999.
The North American sales and distribution division, TMHU, was created in Irvine, California in 2002 and quickly became the leading lift truck seller that same year. The Columbus plant introduced its first domestically engineered forklift model (the AC-electric 7FBEU) in 2003 and celebrated manufacturing its 200,000th forklift by 2004. In 2008, tow tractor production began at this site alongside TMHU’s exclusive distribution rights for Aichi aerial work platforms across North America.
TMHU moved its headquarters to Columbus in 2012 to unify operations with TIEM. The following year, the Columbus facility launched an upgraded forklift model designed and produced locally rather than imported from Japan.
The merger of TIEM and TMHU into a single entity named Toyota Material Handling, Inc. was announced in 2019 and finalized by January 2020 under the leadership of President and CEO Jeff Rufener. TMH currently operates as a direct subsidiary within Toyota Material Handling North America under Toyota Industries Corporation.
By 2021, TMH had achieved the sale of its 750,000th forklift unit, underscoring consistent growth and a strong market presence within the material handling sector.
Products and operation
Toyota Material Handling (TMH) is engaged in designing, manufacturing, and distributing a broad range of material handling machinery and industrial equipment. Its lineup features three- and four-wheel electric forklifts, internal combustion models, and forklifts powered by compressed natural gas—all primarily produced at its Columbus plant. Additional offerings include pallet jacks, tow tractors, order pickers, container handlers, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and reach trucks. TMH also serves as the sole North American distributor for Aichi aerial work platforms such as scissor lifts and boom lifts.
Distribution of TMH’s products is facilitated through the extensive Toyota Dealer Network, which encompasses more than 200 independent dealerships throughout the United States and Canada, reinforcing its widespread presence across North America.