1 00:00:01,711 --> 00:00:04,294 - [narrator] previously on "the cars that built the world." 2 00:00:08,426 --> 00:00:11,760 ferdinand porsche makes a bdangerous deal with hitler.S, 3 00:00:11,804 --> 00:00:15,139 - you wanna fill the streets of germany with cars? 4 00:00:15,182 --> 00:00:17,224 Let me design them for you. 5 00:00:17,268 --> 00:00:19,393 - It's easy to see why ferdinand porsche, 6 00:00:19,437 --> 00:00:20,853 would like this idea. 7 00:00:20,896 --> 00:00:25,190 He was a brilliant engineer and a bit of an egomaniac. 8 00:00:26,193 --> 00:00:27,401 - [narrator] in japan, 9 00:00:27,445 --> 00:00:30,529 the quest to modernize pushes kiichiro toyoda 10 00:00:30,573 --> 00:00:31,780 into the unknown. 11 00:00:31,824 --> 00:00:34,241 - Cars? I know nothing about cars. 12 00:00:34,285 --> 00:00:35,784 - [narrator] while soichiro honda, 13 00:00:35,828 --> 00:00:40,330 pursues his car making dream by powering bicycles. 14 00:00:40,374 --> 00:00:43,333 - He attached a generator to a bicycle, 15 00:00:43,377 --> 00:00:46,879 that prototype became the first honda motorcycle. 16 00:00:46,922 --> 00:00:50,007 - [narrator] now in the aftermath of world war ii, 17 00:00:50,051 --> 00:00:52,718 these visionary inventors must innovate 18 00:00:52,762 --> 00:00:57,723 and take on america's big three car makers to survive, 19 00:00:58,225 --> 00:00:59,725 as benz, 20 00:00:59,769 --> 00:01:00,476 daimler, 21 00:01:00,519 --> 00:01:01,810 maybach, 22 00:01:01,854 --> 00:01:03,729 rolls and royce, 23 00:01:03,773 --> 00:01:05,064 ford, 24 00:01:05,107 --> 00:01:06,106 bentley, 25 00:01:06,150 --> 00:01:06,982 porsche, 26 00:01:08,069 --> 00:01:09,485 honda, 27 00:01:09,570 --> 00:01:13,363 and toyoda create, "the cars that made the wilt the " 28 00:01:13,449 --> 00:01:15,491 (car engine revving) 29 00:01:15,576 --> 00:01:18,077 (upbeat music) 30 00:01:26,462 --> 00:01:27,336 - [soldier] papers. 31 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,674 This is a french pass, sir. 32 00:01:34,011 --> 00:01:35,135 - Yes, I know but I was told that I could- 33 00:01:35,179 --> 00:01:37,179 - you need an american pass, 34 00:01:37,223 --> 00:01:38,430 you gonna have to turn around. 35 00:01:38,474 --> 00:01:40,057 - Please look at the pass again. 36 00:01:40,101 --> 00:01:42,142 - I've seen the pass. Look I've got strict orders not 37 00:01:42,186 --> 00:01:44,520 to let anyone through without an american pass. 38 00:01:46,023 --> 00:01:47,564 - Please let me through. 39 00:01:47,608 --> 00:01:50,234 - Turn the car around or I'm gonna have to arrest you. 40 00:01:50,277 --> 00:01:53,237 - [narrator] one year after world war ii ends, 41 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,823 ferry porsche is released from prison, 42 00:01:55,866 --> 00:01:58,659 where he's been held as a nazi collaborator, 43 00:01:58,702 --> 00:02:02,496 but the world he finds outside has changed. 44 00:02:02,540 --> 00:02:05,916 - After the war, germany was literally divided into zones. 45 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,169 There were very strict barriers about who could move where 46 00:02:09,213 --> 00:02:12,464 and who was allowed in which part of germany. 47 00:02:13,968 --> 00:02:17,136 - [narrator] cut off from his home base in stuttgart, 48 00:02:17,179 --> 00:02:19,972 his company's future is in jeopardy. 49 00:02:22,476 --> 00:02:26,770 With nowhere else to go, ferry returns to austria where he 50 00:02:26,814 --> 00:02:28,897 and his father retreated during the war 51 00:02:28,941 --> 00:02:31,316 to continue supplying the nazi war effort. 52 00:02:32,403 --> 00:02:34,903 A few months later, ferry porsche, 53 00:02:34,947 --> 00:02:39,658 one of germany's premier car makers, is designing tractors. 54 00:02:41,662 --> 00:02:44,830 He knows it will take much more to bring porsche back, 55 00:02:46,250 --> 00:02:49,668 but building a car could be impossible. 56 00:02:51,338 --> 00:02:52,963 - The whole situation was very difficult 57 00:02:53,007 --> 00:02:54,631 because there were no parts available 58 00:02:54,675 --> 00:02:55,841 and no material all. 59 00:02:57,344 --> 00:03:00,888 - [narrator] but the parts he needs for his dream car, 60 00:03:00,931 --> 00:03:02,431 could be right here, 61 00:03:03,517 --> 00:03:04,683 on the volkswagen. 62 00:03:09,607 --> 00:03:12,566 - Ferry porsche always wanted to make a sports car 63 00:03:12,610 --> 00:03:14,026 with his name on it. 64 00:03:14,069 --> 00:03:16,987 But in the years after world war ii, 65 00:03:17,031 --> 00:03:22,034 he couldn't really get his hands on specialty parts 66 00:03:23,204 --> 00:03:25,704 or produce new parts for this sports car project. 67 00:03:28,125 --> 00:03:30,500 - [narrator] with no other options, 68 00:03:30,544 --> 00:03:35,547 he realizes the only way forward is to turn to the past. 69 00:03:39,428 --> 00:03:42,262 Half a world away, in japan, 70 00:03:42,306 --> 00:03:45,766 the postwar outlook is just as bleak 71 00:03:45,809 --> 00:03:48,227 with a third of its factories destroyed 72 00:03:48,270 --> 00:03:50,979 and the rest lacking fuel and supplies. 73 00:03:51,023 --> 00:03:53,732 Japan's industry is stagnant. 74 00:03:53,776 --> 00:03:58,153 While allied bombs have left almost 9 million homeless. 75 00:03:59,615 --> 00:04:02,199 - Postwar japan was a tough place. 76 00:04:02,243 --> 00:04:04,201 I mean, the country was devastated by the war. 77 00:04:04,245 --> 00:04:06,787 So much was bombed, there was not a lot of money. 78 00:04:06,830 --> 00:04:09,081 There are material shortages. 79 00:04:09,124 --> 00:04:11,416 The restrictions were very strict. 80 00:04:11,460 --> 00:04:14,169 (liquid pouring) 81 00:04:15,089 --> 00:04:16,630 - [narrator] in the devastation, 82 00:04:16,674 --> 00:04:20,592 the market for soichiro honda's motorized bicycle grows. 83 00:04:21,845 --> 00:04:23,971 But with gas strictly rationed, 84 00:04:24,014 --> 00:04:26,265 honda turns to the black market, 85 00:04:27,476 --> 00:04:29,476 a risky move. 86 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,062 In the seven years of occupation after the war, 87 00:04:32,106 --> 00:04:36,817 1.2 million japanese are arrested for illicit trading. 88 00:04:36,860 --> 00:04:39,903 (police officer knocking on the door) 89 00:04:39,947 --> 00:04:41,280 - how can I help you, sir? 90 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:43,949 - Just doing the rounds. 91 00:04:45,286 --> 00:04:46,118 What's your name? 92 00:04:47,204 --> 00:04:48,954 - Honda, soichiro honda. 93 00:04:50,457 --> 00:04:51,623 This is my bike shop. 94 00:04:53,544 --> 00:04:55,627 I fix motorcycles, 95 00:04:56,630 --> 00:04:59,631 bikes, a bit of a mechanic. 96 00:05:00,968 --> 00:05:03,552 (upbeat music) 97 00:05:07,558 --> 00:05:08,473 - what's this? 98 00:05:10,102 --> 00:05:13,061 - [narrator] to mask the smell and avoid arrest, 99 00:05:13,105 --> 00:05:17,065 honda mixes his gas with turpentine. 100 00:05:17,109 --> 00:05:19,818 - It's turpentine it's made from pine sap. 101 00:05:25,701 --> 00:05:26,992 - All right mr. Honda, 102 00:05:28,537 --> 00:05:30,120 stay out of trouble. 103 00:05:30,164 --> 00:05:31,872 - Will do, sir. Thank you so much. 104 00:05:31,915 --> 00:05:35,667 - [narrator] honda's deceptive fuel mix has done its job. 105 00:05:35,711 --> 00:05:37,127 - He's clean. 106 00:05:37,171 --> 00:05:39,254 - [narrator] but it's only a short term solution. 107 00:05:43,385 --> 00:05:46,803 The american occupation force not only acts as enforcers 108 00:05:46,847 --> 00:05:50,932 of the law, but as ambassadors for democracy. 109 00:05:52,061 --> 00:05:55,312 - American leaders decided that they needed 110 00:05:55,356 --> 00:05:58,732 to help rebuild the japanese economy. 111 00:05:58,776 --> 00:06:02,402 China had gone communist and japan was seen 112 00:06:02,446 --> 00:06:04,363 as a counterweight to china. 113 00:06:04,406 --> 00:06:07,866 Macarthur handled a very difficult job brilliantly 114 00:06:07,910 --> 00:06:11,244 and essentially remade japan in the image 115 00:06:11,288 --> 00:06:13,997 of a peace loving democracy, 116 00:06:14,041 --> 00:06:16,041 something it had not been before the war. 117 00:06:19,296 --> 00:06:21,797 - [narrator] as the u.S. Helps reinvent japan, 118 00:06:22,966 --> 00:06:25,801 honda tries the same with his motor bikes. 119 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,970 - Honda kept evolving his bikes. 120 00:06:29,014 --> 00:06:32,265 And one of his main philosophies was that he wanted everyone 121 00:06:32,309 --> 00:06:33,725 to be able to use them. 122 00:06:36,438 --> 00:06:39,272 What he realized was that women had trouble using them, 123 00:06:39,316 --> 00:06:40,941 when they were wearing dresses because 124 00:06:40,984 --> 00:06:43,944 of the way that the bars were positioned. 125 00:06:43,987 --> 00:06:45,404 So he decided, 126 00:06:45,447 --> 00:06:49,324 I want to create something that would be user friendly 127 00:06:49,368 --> 00:06:51,284 for young men and women. 128 00:06:51,328 --> 00:06:52,953 - [narrator] but removing the crossbar, 129 00:06:52,996 --> 00:06:54,746 creates a new problem. 130 00:06:55,958 --> 00:06:58,083 There's nowhere to mount the engine. 131 00:06:59,837 --> 00:07:01,128 - Honda just always knew that, 132 00:07:01,171 --> 00:07:02,963 there was an engineering solution 133 00:07:03,006 --> 00:07:04,464 to any problem he encountered. 134 00:07:04,508 --> 00:07:08,969 And he would come up with a way to solve those problems. 135 00:07:09,012 --> 00:07:11,596 (upbeat music) 136 00:07:13,392 --> 00:07:15,684 - [narrator] as honda searches for a solution, 137 00:07:17,187 --> 00:07:21,273 kiichiro toyoda is limited to making u.S. Military vehicles, 138 00:07:21,316 --> 00:07:25,569 but he's desperate to find a way to produce civilian cars. 139 00:07:25,612 --> 00:07:28,822 - So at this time passenger car production, 140 00:07:28,866 --> 00:07:32,075 was restricted and the u.S. Military put in an order 141 00:07:32,119 --> 00:07:35,412 of 50 vehicles to be built by toyoda. 142 00:07:35,456 --> 00:07:37,998 Toyoda was so committed to building a passenger car, 143 00:07:38,041 --> 00:07:41,001 that they kind of bent the rules 144 00:07:41,044 --> 00:07:43,378 and snuck in four prototypes, 145 00:07:43,422 --> 00:07:45,505 which would become the toyoda sa 146 00:07:45,549 --> 00:07:47,591 and added them to the order. 147 00:07:47,634 --> 00:07:49,134 - Please. 148 00:07:49,178 --> 00:07:52,262 - [narrator] he's built the four prototypes at a huge risk. 149 00:07:52,306 --> 00:07:55,682 Exhausting the last of his company's resources. 150 00:07:55,726 --> 00:07:57,601 - So let's get to it. 151 00:07:57,644 --> 00:07:59,603 - General, those four cars, 152 00:07:59,646 --> 00:08:02,898 in no way affected the work we were contracted to do. 153 00:08:02,941 --> 00:08:04,900 It was on our own time. 154 00:08:04,943 --> 00:08:06,234 We used our own money. 155 00:08:07,571 --> 00:08:10,655 - Your car, the top brass. 156 00:08:11,825 --> 00:08:12,657 They love it. 157 00:08:14,203 --> 00:08:15,285 - I see. 158 00:08:15,329 --> 00:08:17,162 - [narrator] the gamble pays off. 159 00:08:17,206 --> 00:08:19,122 - The u.S. Military loved them so much, 160 00:08:19,166 --> 00:08:21,875 that they gave toyoda the green light to go ahead 161 00:08:21,919 --> 00:08:23,210 with production cars. 162 00:08:23,253 --> 00:08:24,336 - Thank you, general. 163 00:08:25,506 --> 00:08:27,005 - You're welcome. 164 00:08:28,383 --> 00:08:30,926 - [narrator] toyoda is clear to begin full production 165 00:08:30,969 --> 00:08:33,178 of the model sa, 166 00:08:33,222 --> 00:08:35,138 a four cylinder two-door, 167 00:08:35,182 --> 00:08:37,516 modeled after the volkswagen beetle. 168 00:08:39,728 --> 00:08:43,480 But ramping up will require massive investment. 169 00:08:43,524 --> 00:08:46,191 In the midst of a postwar recession, 170 00:08:46,235 --> 00:08:48,568 the company needs a loan. 171 00:08:48,612 --> 00:08:52,697 To get it, the bank of japan demands toyoda cut 40% 172 00:08:52,741 --> 00:08:54,324 of its labor force, 173 00:08:54,368 --> 00:08:55,909 something kiichiro's cousin 174 00:08:55,953 --> 00:08:59,538 and fellow executive eiji toyoda, find shocking. 175 00:09:00,874 --> 00:09:05,043 - Kiichiro, you're putting hundreds of people out of work. 176 00:09:06,922 --> 00:09:08,547 - This isn't what anybody wants. 177 00:09:09,967 --> 00:09:12,217 Sometimes there is no choice. 178 00:09:15,013 --> 00:09:18,265 - Kiichiro toyoda's obligation was also to his people. 179 00:09:18,308 --> 00:09:20,392 It was almost like one big family. 180 00:09:20,435 --> 00:09:24,396 It was almost like you or I firing our children. 181 00:09:26,441 --> 00:09:27,315 - I failed, 182 00:09:29,778 --> 00:09:31,069 and it's time for me to go. 183 00:09:33,574 --> 00:09:35,865 - [narrator] convinced he's let down his country, 184 00:09:35,909 --> 00:09:38,076 his family and his workers, 185 00:09:38,912 --> 00:09:41,079 kiichiro resigns. 186 00:09:41,123 --> 00:09:42,289 - I'm stepping down. 187 00:09:42,332 --> 00:09:43,582 - [narrator] hopeful of fresh start, 188 00:09:43,625 --> 00:09:46,835 gives eiji a shot at realizing his dream. 189 00:09:48,338 --> 00:09:51,840 - Kiichiro toyoda's vision was to make passenger cars 190 00:09:51,883 --> 00:09:54,718 and after he resigned, 191 00:09:54,761 --> 00:09:56,136 he asked, 192 00:09:56,179 --> 00:09:59,848 "please help me with my vision make passenger cars." 193 00:10:02,311 --> 00:10:06,980 (somber music) 194 00:10:07,024 --> 00:10:09,733 - [narrator] as kiichiro toyoda walks away 195 00:10:09,818 --> 00:10:13,570 the u.S. Economy booms raising household incomes 196 00:10:13,655 --> 00:10:15,655 by some 20%. 197 00:10:15,699 --> 00:10:19,034 In europe, the marshall plan pumps the modern equivalent 198 00:10:19,077 --> 00:10:23,538 of $130 billion into postwar recovery. 199 00:10:23,582 --> 00:10:26,916 The investment helps bring germany's auto industry back 200 00:10:27,002 --> 00:10:28,460 from the brink, 201 00:10:28,503 --> 00:10:32,380 creating an opening for ferry porsche's new sports car, 202 00:10:32,466 --> 00:10:36,176 built almost entirely from volkswagen parts. 203 00:10:36,219 --> 00:10:40,555 - Ferry porsche understood how to make the most out 204 00:10:40,641 --> 00:10:42,641 of the limitations that he was given. 205 00:10:44,102 --> 00:10:46,770 So what he ended up doing was really revolutionary. 206 00:10:46,855 --> 00:10:49,230 (bright upbeat music) 207 00:10:49,316 --> 00:10:52,609 - [narrator] ferry spends two years building his first car. 208 00:10:53,612 --> 00:10:55,320 Finishing in 1948 209 00:10:57,115 --> 00:10:59,074 and paying the french for his father's release 210 00:10:59,159 --> 00:11:01,409 from prison, for suspicion of war crimes. 211 00:11:01,453 --> 00:11:03,036 - Something I wanna show you. 212 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:08,083 - He revamped this design into the porsche 356, 213 00:11:10,587 --> 00:11:12,587 the quintessential sports car. 214 00:11:12,631 --> 00:11:16,257 (ferry's father laughing) 215 00:11:16,301 --> 00:11:17,926 - the engine? 216 00:11:17,969 --> 00:11:20,136 - It's flat four but 35 horsepower 217 00:11:20,222 --> 00:11:22,138 touches 85 miles an hour. 218 00:11:22,224 --> 00:11:23,431 - From the volkswagen? 219 00:11:23,475 --> 00:11:24,683 - Same gear box and suspension too. 220 00:11:25,894 --> 00:11:28,603 - Porsche overbuilt the volkswagen engine, 221 00:11:28,689 --> 00:11:31,314 which gave his son a really easy way 222 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,608 to open the breathing of that engine up with a pair 223 00:11:33,652 --> 00:11:36,069 of carburetors and then you get all of a sudden, 224 00:11:36,113 --> 00:11:37,487 a much more powerful engine. 225 00:11:37,572 --> 00:11:39,072 - Let me show you how it sounds. 226 00:11:39,116 --> 00:11:41,950 (car engine revving) 227 00:11:41,993 --> 00:11:43,076 - [narrator] to make room, 228 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,745 ferry removes the volkswagen's backseat, 229 00:11:45,789 --> 00:11:48,248 creating the first in a long line 230 00:11:48,291 --> 00:11:50,583 of iconic porsche roadsters. 231 00:11:50,627 --> 00:11:52,335 - Let's take it for a ride. 232 00:11:52,421 --> 00:11:53,920 Yeah? 233 00:11:53,964 --> 00:11:58,675 - It's lightweight and it makes the most of a small engine. 234 00:12:00,512 --> 00:12:02,804 It's a joy to drive. 235 00:12:02,848 --> 00:12:05,181 It has that classic silhouette, 236 00:12:05,267 --> 00:12:09,352 that we see in every modern porsche out there. 237 00:12:09,438 --> 00:12:12,355 - It's extraordinary, like what ferry did, 238 00:12:12,441 --> 00:12:16,151 basically just working on the foundation 239 00:12:16,194 --> 00:12:18,653 of a volkswagen, a bug. 240 00:12:20,157 --> 00:12:24,242 And he took that and he transformed it into the 356, 241 00:12:25,370 --> 00:12:28,496 the most iconic sports car of its era. 242 00:12:28,540 --> 00:12:30,540 - [narrator] while porsche finds a way forward 243 00:12:30,625 --> 00:12:32,083 with his 356, 244 00:12:34,546 --> 00:12:36,337 in japan... 245 00:12:36,381 --> 00:12:38,840 - I call that the cub type f. 246 00:12:38,884 --> 00:12:41,176 - [narrator] soichiro honda is in trouble. 247 00:12:41,219 --> 00:12:43,511 His designs are revolutionary, 248 00:12:43,555 --> 00:12:46,890 but his company is still losing money. 249 00:12:46,975 --> 00:12:49,017 - Soichiro honda was not a great businessman. 250 00:12:49,060 --> 00:12:50,310 He was out of his element. 251 00:12:50,353 --> 00:12:52,353 He eventually had to get a partner 252 00:12:52,397 --> 00:12:54,856 to handle the business side of things. 253 00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:58,693 - All I needed to do was move the engine to the back wheel. 254 00:12:58,737 --> 00:12:59,527 You see? 255 00:13:01,865 --> 00:13:03,615 - How many of these have you made? 256 00:13:05,076 --> 00:13:06,701 - [narrator] to save his business, 257 00:13:06,745 --> 00:13:10,330 he looks to takeo fujisawa, a top salesman 258 00:13:10,373 --> 00:13:13,374 for one of japan's largest steel companies. 259 00:13:13,418 --> 00:13:15,376 - This is what's next. - Mr. Honda. 260 00:13:15,420 --> 00:13:17,587 - So I'm thinking we could probably put a rack 261 00:13:17,672 --> 00:13:18,880 at the back- - mr honda! 262 00:13:19,883 --> 00:13:23,468 I know nothing about engines. 263 00:13:24,554 --> 00:13:25,929 I know business. 264 00:13:26,014 --> 00:13:26,763 - Of course. 265 00:13:26,848 --> 00:13:28,723 - And yours... 266 00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:33,269 - Fujisawa saw in honda a brilliant inventor, 267 00:13:33,355 --> 00:13:36,064 a brilliant creator of machines. 268 00:13:36,107 --> 00:13:38,399 - There was just not a solid business. 269 00:13:39,611 --> 00:13:41,236 - [ ben] and he saw that the products, 270 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:43,071 are making lives better. 271 00:13:43,114 --> 00:13:44,113 - Let me handle that. 272 00:13:45,450 --> 00:13:47,242 The only thing you need to focus on, 273 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:50,954 is this. 274 00:13:52,916 --> 00:13:56,751 - He became like the go to guy for dealing with suppliers, 275 00:13:56,795 --> 00:13:58,253 dealing with dealers, 276 00:13:58,338 --> 00:14:01,756 anything financial to help honda expand his business. 277 00:14:01,842 --> 00:14:03,591 - You got yourself a partner. (laughs) 278 00:14:05,053 --> 00:14:06,803 come on, there's something else I wanted to show you. 279 00:14:06,888 --> 00:14:10,098 - [narrator] with fujisawa bringing order to the business, 280 00:14:10,141 --> 00:14:13,810 honda is free to focus on innovation. 281 00:14:13,895 --> 00:14:15,603 (upbeat music) 282 00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:20,108 as japan continues to struggle, in postwar america, 283 00:14:20,151 --> 00:14:22,777 the boom accelerates. 284 00:14:25,073 --> 00:14:28,116 The middle class is growing with good jobs 285 00:14:28,159 --> 00:14:29,868 and plenty of money to spend. 286 00:14:32,122 --> 00:14:37,041 Between 1945 and 1949, americans buy over 4 million tv sets, 287 00:14:39,170 --> 00:14:43,381 5 million stoves and over 20 million refrigerators. 288 00:14:44,759 --> 00:14:49,679 But there's no industry rigging it in faster than cars. 289 00:14:50,265 --> 00:14:53,474 - America had no economic competitors 290 00:14:53,518 --> 00:14:58,438 and the price of oil was at $3 and 50 cents a barrel. 291 00:14:59,816 --> 00:15:02,483 And it looked like it was gonna be blue skies for decades 292 00:15:02,527 --> 00:15:03,651 to come. 293 00:15:03,695 --> 00:15:06,154 - [narrator] by 1950, led by the big three 294 00:15:06,197 --> 00:15:08,990 of ford, general motors and chrysler, 295 00:15:09,034 --> 00:15:13,369 the u.S. Is manufacturing over 5 million cars a year. 296 00:15:13,455 --> 00:15:16,164 No other country is even close. 297 00:15:16,207 --> 00:15:20,043 Ford alone turns out 8,000 a day. 298 00:15:21,630 --> 00:15:26,591 Toyoda on the other hand has made only 2,500 cars, 299 00:15:27,719 --> 00:15:29,427 in 13 years. 300 00:15:31,389 --> 00:15:35,558 Eiji toyoda sees only one way to save his family's company, 301 00:15:35,644 --> 00:15:39,062 make cars that can compete in the u.S. 302 00:15:39,147 --> 00:15:42,523 - Eiji toyoda was serious about kiichiro toyoda's mission 303 00:15:42,567 --> 00:15:45,360 of creating a global car company as kiichiro toyoda was. 304 00:15:45,403 --> 00:15:49,656 He had the baton handed to him and now it's his job, 305 00:15:49,699 --> 00:15:53,201 his lifelong mission 306 00:15:53,244 --> 00:15:56,371 to make toyota a successful company. 307 00:15:56,414 --> 00:15:59,999 - [narrator] to learn from the best, eiji travels to detroit 308 00:16:00,043 --> 00:16:03,920 and studies the operations at some of ford's largest plants. 309 00:16:04,005 --> 00:16:05,505 - After the second world war, 310 00:16:05,548 --> 00:16:09,092 the idea that japan would be any sort of a threat to detroit 311 00:16:09,177 --> 00:16:10,677 was absolute fantasy. 312 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,011 - [narrator] underestimated, 313 00:16:12,055 --> 00:16:14,722 eiji toyoda takes full advantage, 314 00:16:14,766 --> 00:16:17,850 spending over a month learning all he can 315 00:16:17,894 --> 00:16:19,394 from the americans. 316 00:16:19,437 --> 00:16:22,563 - With ford being the pioneer of mass production, 317 00:16:22,607 --> 00:16:26,234 it was, turning out cars at an unbelievable rate, 318 00:16:26,277 --> 00:16:28,611 but eiji toyoda also noticed, 319 00:16:28,697 --> 00:16:31,906 that there were many inefficiencies in the plant. 320 00:16:34,035 --> 00:16:37,036 - [narrator] he returns from detroit with a plan. 321 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,247 - This ruler is the assembly line. 322 00:16:40,709 --> 00:16:43,167 These erasers, are workers. 323 00:16:44,295 --> 00:16:45,461 - [narrator] his mission, 324 00:16:45,547 --> 00:16:48,715 maximize productivity on the assembly line 325 00:16:48,758 --> 00:16:50,591 by re-imagining it. 326 00:16:50,677 --> 00:16:53,678 - It's productive, but it takes so many people. 327 00:16:54,723 --> 00:16:57,265 What if we did this, 328 00:16:57,308 --> 00:17:00,768 reshape the line, in a u shape. 329 00:17:00,812 --> 00:17:03,646 - He came up with this revolutionary new way 330 00:17:03,732 --> 00:17:05,565 of running the assembly line. 331 00:17:05,608 --> 00:17:08,151 Instead of each assembly line worker, 332 00:17:08,236 --> 00:17:12,113 only installing one component over and over on every car, 333 00:17:12,157 --> 00:17:16,367 individual workers had more responsibilities and more tasks. 334 00:17:18,121 --> 00:17:21,289 - One person in the middle, eliminates two people. 335 00:17:21,332 --> 00:17:24,625 We can build our cars with one third the men. 336 00:17:24,711 --> 00:17:27,086 - This made production more efficient, 337 00:17:27,130 --> 00:17:29,630 which made it cheaper to build each car. 338 00:17:29,674 --> 00:17:32,133 - [narrator] eiji toyoda's five year plan aims 339 00:17:32,218 --> 00:17:35,178 to completely reinvent the car making process. 340 00:17:35,263 --> 00:17:38,598 - Efficiency, that's how we take them on. 341 00:17:38,641 --> 00:17:40,683 - [narrator] and start making cars. 342 00:17:40,769 --> 00:17:41,768 - Any questions? 343 00:17:41,811 --> 00:17:43,227 - [narrator] the toyoda way. 344 00:17:46,649 --> 00:17:47,482 (upbeat music) 345 00:17:47,525 --> 00:17:49,192 - [narrator] in 1949, 346 00:17:49,277 --> 00:17:53,946 u.S. Car makers crank out over 5 million new cars, 347 00:17:53,990 --> 00:17:57,241 competing with america's big three, isn't easy, 348 00:17:58,536 --> 00:18:00,787 but ferry porsche has broken through 349 00:18:00,830 --> 00:18:03,790 with his beetle inspired sports car. 350 00:18:03,833 --> 00:18:07,543 Still, getting the porsche 356 into mass production, 351 00:18:07,629 --> 00:18:08,795 is a problem. 352 00:18:08,838 --> 00:18:12,340 - 80% of the components in the porsche 356, 353 00:18:12,383 --> 00:18:14,300 came from volkswagen. 354 00:18:14,344 --> 00:18:18,137 It's hard to explain just how limiting this was. 355 00:18:18,181 --> 00:18:20,640 - [narrator] to build his new sports car brand, 356 00:18:20,683 --> 00:18:22,100 ferry needs a break. 357 00:18:25,647 --> 00:18:28,106 - We need access to vw's infrastructure. 358 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:30,817 - [narrator] he finds one 359 00:18:30,860 --> 00:18:33,861 with volkswagen's new president, heinrich nordhoff, 360 00:18:33,905 --> 00:18:37,532 who's after porsche's engineering expertise. 361 00:18:37,575 --> 00:18:40,493 - We'll share the patent of the volkswagen with you, 362 00:18:40,537 --> 00:18:44,664 but a percentage of every beetle sold goes to us. 363 00:18:44,707 --> 00:18:46,999 - [narrator] the deal would give porsche access 364 00:18:47,043 --> 00:18:51,045 to volkswagen's parts, service and distribution, 365 00:18:51,089 --> 00:18:54,632 while providing volkswagen cutting edge design. 366 00:18:54,676 --> 00:18:56,843 - Volkswagen had the industrial might. 367 00:18:56,886 --> 00:18:58,719 They could produce huge quantities 368 00:18:58,805 --> 00:19:00,888 of pretty much anything that would be needed. 369 00:19:00,932 --> 00:19:04,475 And porsche had engineering and design chops, 370 00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:07,436 that potentially could help volkswagen in the future. 371 00:19:09,732 --> 00:19:11,274 - Your father should be proud. 372 00:19:12,694 --> 00:19:15,361 - Porsche became like the think tank of volkswagen 373 00:19:15,405 --> 00:19:18,906 and they inspired volkswagen with many new ideas. 374 00:19:18,950 --> 00:19:21,409 - Our success will become your success. 375 00:19:21,452 --> 00:19:23,995 (upbeat music) 376 00:19:25,456 --> 00:19:27,915 - [narrator] but just two years into the partnership, 377 00:19:27,959 --> 00:19:32,503 ferdinand porsche passes away at the age of 75. 378 00:19:34,299 --> 00:19:37,717 Now on his own, ferry turns to racing 379 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,011 to bring attention to the 356, 380 00:19:41,389 --> 00:19:44,182 taking a page from a car making legends like w.O bentley 381 00:19:44,225 --> 00:19:47,852 and entering the 24 hours of le mans. 382 00:19:51,065 --> 00:19:55,902 - The big deal about le mans is that it's a 24 hour race. 383 00:19:55,945 --> 00:19:58,112 It's an endurance race. 384 00:19:58,156 --> 00:20:01,282 - [narrator] though half of the cars failed to finish, 385 00:20:01,326 --> 00:20:03,534 the 356 shocks the world, 386 00:20:04,746 --> 00:20:06,996 taking the 1.1 leader championship. 387 00:20:07,081 --> 00:20:09,665 (crowd cheering) 388 00:20:09,751 --> 00:20:11,584 - which is incredible because most manufacturers, 389 00:20:11,628 --> 00:20:14,879 end up failing for years before they finally succeed. 390 00:20:16,466 --> 00:20:19,634 And he really established the porsche brand. 391 00:20:19,677 --> 00:20:21,886 And they'd been winning at le mans ever since. 392 00:20:23,806 --> 00:20:25,723 - [narrator] for toyoda, 393 00:20:25,767 --> 00:20:27,934 success is coming slower, 394 00:20:29,020 --> 00:20:31,604 but eiji's revolutionary production process, 395 00:20:31,648 --> 00:20:35,483 is now delivering their most advanced car ever, 396 00:20:35,526 --> 00:20:37,652 the toyopet crown. 397 00:20:37,737 --> 00:20:41,781 - It was a huge accomplishment that toyoda finally had made, 398 00:20:41,824 --> 00:20:44,325 their own car that they designed and they could deliver 399 00:20:44,369 --> 00:20:45,910 to the japanese people. 400 00:20:45,954 --> 00:20:49,205 - Most of the streets in tokyo were pretty narrow and rough 401 00:20:49,290 --> 00:20:50,665 to say nothing of the countryside, 402 00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:52,708 but because of its more robust axles 403 00:20:52,794 --> 00:20:55,461 and frame the toyoda crown, 404 00:20:55,505 --> 00:20:58,297 could handle japan's infrastructure better. 405 00:20:58,341 --> 00:20:59,382 - [narrator] eiji toyoda 406 00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:01,634 believes they could soon be ready 407 00:21:01,678 --> 00:21:03,386 to sell cars in the u.S. 408 00:21:04,681 --> 00:21:05,888 But there's a problem. 409 00:21:05,932 --> 00:21:08,099 - They're trying to push us out of the market. 410 00:21:11,521 --> 00:21:14,188 - The american government was starting to see a threat 411 00:21:14,232 --> 00:21:17,984 of too many overseas imports and was starting 412 00:21:18,027 --> 00:21:21,153 to develop legislation for protectionism. 413 00:21:21,197 --> 00:21:22,363 - [narrator] without access 414 00:21:22,407 --> 00:21:24,365 to the world's largest car market, 415 00:21:24,409 --> 00:21:27,576 toyoda's potential is severely limited, 416 00:21:27,662 --> 00:21:29,620 leaving only one option. 417 00:21:32,083 --> 00:21:35,126 - If we don't respond now, we lose. 418 00:21:36,879 --> 00:21:38,671 Get the team together. 419 00:21:38,715 --> 00:21:40,589 We're going to launch in america. 420 00:21:42,051 --> 00:21:44,677 - It was an incredibly risky move and toyoda wanted 421 00:21:44,721 --> 00:21:48,514 to get a foothold into the u.S. Market before any 422 00:21:48,558 --> 00:21:51,767 of these laws would close them out. 423 00:21:51,853 --> 00:21:53,561 - [narrator] in 1957, 424 00:21:53,604 --> 00:21:57,606 toyota sets up sales offices in california, 425 00:21:57,692 --> 00:22:01,402 taking a chance as the first japanese car company, 426 00:22:01,446 --> 00:22:03,612 in the united states. 427 00:22:04,949 --> 00:22:05,781 Meanwhile, 428 00:22:07,618 --> 00:22:10,494 soichiro honda is working on something new. 429 00:22:12,081 --> 00:22:14,623 A breakthrough product for his new business partner, 430 00:22:14,709 --> 00:22:15,499 fujisawa. 431 00:22:16,878 --> 00:22:20,087 - Fujisawa wanted to sell a motorcycle that 432 00:22:20,131 --> 00:22:23,424 would mobilize japan in a dramatic way. 433 00:22:23,468 --> 00:22:25,301 He wanted something that would be easy to use, 434 00:22:25,386 --> 00:22:28,888 no matter what your riding skill was. 435 00:22:28,931 --> 00:22:31,182 - [narrator] honda's game-changing answer, 436 00:22:33,936 --> 00:22:35,019 the super cub. 437 00:22:42,987 --> 00:22:44,820 - Do you like it? 438 00:22:44,906 --> 00:22:47,948 - It's very impressive. 439 00:22:48,034 --> 00:22:50,576 - The super cub is an amazing vehicle 440 00:22:50,620 --> 00:22:54,413 because it's kind of a hybrid between scooters 441 00:22:54,457 --> 00:22:55,915 and actual motorcycles. 442 00:22:55,958 --> 00:22:58,584 It has full-size wheels like a motorcycle, 443 00:22:58,628 --> 00:23:00,086 but it's also a step through design 444 00:23:00,129 --> 00:23:01,962 with a fairing on the front. 445 00:23:02,006 --> 00:23:05,341 So he just made up this whole new category. 446 00:23:05,426 --> 00:23:09,762 - We could sell 30,000 of these, a month. 447 00:23:09,806 --> 00:23:12,139 (honda and fujisawa laughing) 448 00:23:12,183 --> 00:23:13,599 - [narrator] with the super cub, 449 00:23:13,643 --> 00:23:16,560 honda has more than a breakthrough. 450 00:23:16,604 --> 00:23:20,356 He creates a revolutionary new mode of transportation, 451 00:23:21,526 --> 00:23:24,360 a motorcycle for everyone. 452 00:23:24,445 --> 00:23:25,778 (upbeat music) 453 00:23:25,822 --> 00:23:27,279 - with the super cub, 454 00:23:27,323 --> 00:23:29,824 the motorcycle became less of a big and scary thing 455 00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:33,452 and more of a little friendly device that anyone could ride. 456 00:23:33,496 --> 00:23:38,165 - It became the single most popular motor vehicle 457 00:23:38,209 --> 00:23:39,667 of any kind in the world ever. 458 00:23:39,710 --> 00:23:42,670 Over a hundred million have been sold over the years. 459 00:23:42,713 --> 00:23:45,131 - [narrator] the super cub's worldwide success, 460 00:23:45,174 --> 00:23:47,758 convinces honda, he can soon build cars. 461 00:23:50,471 --> 00:23:51,637 But for eiji toyoda, 462 00:23:51,681 --> 00:23:53,514 (telephone ringing) 463 00:23:53,558 --> 00:23:55,558 who's raced into the u.S. Market 464 00:23:55,643 --> 00:23:57,893 with the domestically successful crown, 465 00:23:59,647 --> 00:24:02,898 international expansion is proving more difficult. 466 00:24:04,026 --> 00:24:06,444 U.S. Buyers are not impressed. 467 00:24:08,030 --> 00:24:09,280 - How did this happen? 468 00:24:11,868 --> 00:24:12,950 This is an embarrassment. 469 00:24:14,495 --> 00:24:17,872 - It really wasn't suited for the kinds of terrain 470 00:24:17,915 --> 00:24:21,500 and distances and scales that you saw in america. 471 00:24:21,544 --> 00:24:24,503 - The crown couldn't keep up with traffic. 472 00:24:24,547 --> 00:24:29,175 It often overheated and the ride wasn't that smooth. 473 00:24:29,218 --> 00:24:30,718 - And frankly, 474 00:24:30,761 --> 00:24:33,804 it just wasn't the kind of car that american buyers wanted. 475 00:24:34,932 --> 00:24:36,807 - It was pretty humiliating for toyoda. 476 00:24:41,063 --> 00:24:43,230 - [narrator] as toyoda fights 477 00:24:44,358 --> 00:24:45,858 - [narrator] by 1959, 478 00:24:45,902 --> 00:24:49,570 porsche is making some of the world's greatest sports cars, 479 00:24:49,614 --> 00:24:51,155 and dominating le mans. 480 00:24:52,575 --> 00:24:54,074 With ferry at the helm, 481 00:24:54,118 --> 00:24:57,244 and his son butzi joining the family of designers, 482 00:24:57,330 --> 00:25:01,749 porsche summands its legacy with an iconic new car, 483 00:25:01,792 --> 00:25:02,833 the 911. 484 00:25:04,128 --> 00:25:07,254 Released in 1963 and built on the air cooled 485 00:25:07,298 --> 00:25:09,507 foundation of the volkswagen n356, 486 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,719 the 911 has eight times the horsepower 487 00:25:13,763 --> 00:25:15,554 of the original beetle. 488 00:25:15,598 --> 00:25:18,265 - The 911 was certainly a bigger, more modern sports car. 489 00:25:18,351 --> 00:25:20,726 It had six cylinders instead of four, 490 00:25:20,770 --> 00:25:24,230 but it was very, very clearly an evolution, 491 00:25:24,273 --> 00:25:26,273 of that 356 design. 492 00:25:26,317 --> 00:25:29,276 - If you take a look at the 356, 493 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,237 then you take a look at the 911 494 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,114 and the 935 behind me, 495 00:25:34,158 --> 00:25:37,368 they all have that porsche dna. 496 00:25:38,829 --> 00:25:41,247 - [narrator] but it's another car designed by the porsche's, 497 00:25:41,290 --> 00:25:43,791 that's leading the german resurgence, 498 00:25:43,834 --> 00:25:45,292 the volkswagen. 499 00:25:45,336 --> 00:25:47,962 The beetle is selling in the millions abroad, 500 00:25:48,005 --> 00:25:50,923 and is now taking off in the u.S. 501 00:25:50,967 --> 00:25:53,050 - When the baby boomers started coming of age 502 00:25:53,094 --> 00:25:54,301 during the 1960s, 503 00:25:54,345 --> 00:25:56,095 they had to distinguish themselves, 504 00:25:56,138 --> 00:25:58,430 by rejecting their parents' values. 505 00:25:58,474 --> 00:26:01,308 Now, the volkswagen beetle was so different 506 00:26:01,352 --> 00:26:04,103 from anything that you could see coming out of detroit, 507 00:26:04,146 --> 00:26:05,938 that it made a statement right there. 508 00:26:05,982 --> 00:26:09,024 (soft music) (air whooshing) 509 00:26:09,110 --> 00:26:10,651 - [narrator] thanks in part to it's iconic, 510 00:26:10,695 --> 00:26:12,319 counterculture image, 511 00:26:12,363 --> 00:26:16,532 the people's car breaks through the u.S market in 1961, 512 00:26:16,617 --> 00:26:21,078 selling over 150,000 beetles to american buyers. 513 00:26:22,456 --> 00:26:25,874 It's success opens the door for smaller imports 514 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:27,585 to take on the u.S market. 515 00:26:28,963 --> 00:26:31,505 But as the beetle succeeds, 516 00:26:31,591 --> 00:26:35,301 japanese cars haven't yet made a mark. 517 00:26:35,344 --> 00:26:36,385 - We've all failed. 518 00:26:37,763 --> 00:26:39,013 (clanking) 519 00:26:39,056 --> 00:26:40,472 - [narrator] the failure of the toyopet crown 520 00:26:40,516 --> 00:26:45,352 has cost toyota millions, and severely damaged its brand. 521 00:26:45,396 --> 00:26:47,896 - Toyota learned the hard way about 522 00:26:47,982 --> 00:26:50,858 what the american market demanded. 523 00:26:50,901 --> 00:26:52,109 - We gave him chrome. 524 00:26:53,404 --> 00:26:55,487 Curved glass, top of the line upholstery. 525 00:26:55,531 --> 00:26:59,241 But the dealers are complaining about the power and ride. 526 00:27:00,536 --> 00:27:02,036 - [narrator] in the u.S, 527 00:27:02,079 --> 00:27:05,414 gas guzzling muscle cars made by america's big three 528 00:27:05,499 --> 00:27:07,499 are what buyers want. 529 00:27:07,543 --> 00:27:09,960 Not small underpowered imports. 530 00:27:12,340 --> 00:27:14,840 - There's no doubt the toyopet crown was a failure, 531 00:27:14,884 --> 00:27:17,551 but in toyota's philosophy, 532 00:27:17,595 --> 00:27:20,304 they believe that there's no such thing as failure, 533 00:27:20,348 --> 00:27:21,972 it's just learning opportunities. 534 00:27:24,518 --> 00:27:28,187 - [narrator] for eiji toyoda, the solution is simple. 535 00:27:28,230 --> 00:27:30,397 Listen to the customer. 536 00:27:30,441 --> 00:27:31,690 (upbeat music) 537 00:27:31,734 --> 00:27:33,150 - they just went back to the drawing board, 538 00:27:33,194 --> 00:27:36,528 and they reworked the kind of car they were gonna make. 539 00:27:36,572 --> 00:27:38,822 - This time we're getting it right. 540 00:27:39,950 --> 00:27:40,949 Let's get to work! 541 00:27:43,079 --> 00:27:45,120 - [narrator] meanwhile honda, 542 00:27:45,206 --> 00:27:47,581 who sold millions of motorcycles, 543 00:27:47,625 --> 00:27:50,376 still hasn't made a car. 544 00:27:50,419 --> 00:27:53,796 Now concerned that too many domestic car companies 545 00:27:53,881 --> 00:27:56,256 are making low quality vehicles, 546 00:27:56,300 --> 00:27:58,717 the japanese government acts, 547 00:27:58,761 --> 00:28:01,261 threatening to close the market to any company 548 00:28:01,305 --> 00:28:03,722 yet to make a viable car. 549 00:28:03,766 --> 00:28:06,350 Companies like honda. 550 00:28:06,394 --> 00:28:07,309 - Honda is really 551 00:28:07,395 --> 00:28:09,103 facing an existential crisis. 552 00:28:09,146 --> 00:28:10,646 If they can't be 553 00:28:10,690 --> 00:28:12,731 registered as a car maker under the new government rules, 554 00:28:12,775 --> 00:28:15,442 they might never be able to make that leap. 555 00:28:15,486 --> 00:28:18,779 - Honda immediately fast-tracked production 556 00:28:18,823 --> 00:28:20,823 and development of his first cars. 557 00:28:23,619 --> 00:28:25,494 (tense music) 558 00:28:25,579 --> 00:28:28,330 - [narrator] honda spends millions making prototypes, 559 00:28:29,458 --> 00:28:32,501 determined to prove he's a worthy car maker. 560 00:28:33,796 --> 00:28:38,716 (soft clanking) (tense music) 561 00:28:49,478 --> 00:28:51,520 - he said stick to making motorbikes. 562 00:28:52,815 --> 00:28:53,605 - What? 563 00:28:53,649 --> 00:28:55,107 - The cars. 564 00:28:55,151 --> 00:28:57,443 He wouldn't classify them for passengers. 565 00:28:57,486 --> 00:28:59,069 Not a single model. 566 00:29:00,698 --> 00:29:03,365 - [narrator] the problem with honda's prototype cars, 567 00:29:03,451 --> 00:29:05,409 lies with the engines. 568 00:29:07,121 --> 00:29:08,996 - So what honda ended up building, 569 00:29:09,039 --> 00:29:11,123 was tiny cars, 570 00:29:11,167 --> 00:29:13,500 that were powered by motorcycle engines. 571 00:29:13,544 --> 00:29:17,796 And they weren't really successful as automobiles. 572 00:29:18,883 --> 00:29:21,175 - The engines were extremely high revving, 573 00:29:21,260 --> 00:29:25,137 even had chain-driven rear wheels like a motorcycle. 574 00:29:25,181 --> 00:29:27,890 - This wasn't what the japanese government was looking for 575 00:29:27,975 --> 00:29:28,891 in an automaker. 576 00:29:31,687 --> 00:29:35,481 (loud clanking) (tense music) 577 00:29:35,524 --> 00:29:37,191 - [narrator] faced with a roadblock, 578 00:29:37,234 --> 00:29:40,110 honda decides to try something drastic. 579 00:29:41,155 --> 00:29:42,571 - I'm gonna make a race car. 580 00:29:43,866 --> 00:29:44,990 - What? 581 00:29:45,034 --> 00:29:46,241 - If we make a race car that wins, 582 00:29:47,828 --> 00:29:51,205 there's no way they'll stop us from making passenger cars. 583 00:29:51,248 --> 00:29:54,166 - [narrator] but he doesn't want to make just any race car, 584 00:29:54,210 --> 00:29:56,794 he wants to compete in formula one. 585 00:29:57,838 --> 00:29:59,379 - Entering formula one 586 00:29:59,465 --> 00:30:03,926 was a typically ambitious honda idea. 587 00:30:04,011 --> 00:30:05,552 - It's like if I were to decide, 588 00:30:05,596 --> 00:30:09,014 I'm gonna win the decathlon in the olympics next year. 589 00:30:09,058 --> 00:30:11,183 Not going to happen, but you know, 590 00:30:11,227 --> 00:30:14,269 maybe if soichiro honda was re-engineering me it might. 591 00:30:14,355 --> 00:30:16,230 (upbeat music) 592 00:30:16,273 --> 00:30:20,192 - we'll show them. 593 00:30:21,904 --> 00:30:24,863 Consumer car making now rides on success 594 00:30:24,907 --> 00:30:27,866 at the highest level of car racing, 595 00:30:27,910 --> 00:30:32,788 formula one on the 1964 grand prix circuit. 596 00:30:33,415 --> 00:30:36,041 - Mr.Honda really has remarkable courage. 597 00:30:36,085 --> 00:30:39,461 He takes on challenges that most people would only dream of. 598 00:30:39,505 --> 00:30:42,548 I mean, he throws his company into formula one, 599 00:30:42,591 --> 00:30:45,300 against the might of people like ferrari. 600 00:30:45,344 --> 00:30:46,760 - [narrator] powered by a revolutionary 601 00:30:46,804 --> 00:30:50,931 motorcycle-based engine, honda's car is one of a kind . 602 00:30:52,101 --> 00:30:54,476 12 small cylinders revving at an incredible 603 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:59,356 13,000 rpm producing 230 horsepower. 604 00:31:00,359 --> 00:31:02,568 But in its first full season, 605 00:31:02,611 --> 00:31:06,280 honda's car fails to finish a single race. 606 00:31:08,033 --> 00:31:10,617 (soft clanking) 607 00:31:10,661 --> 00:31:11,785 the next season, 608 00:31:12,621 --> 00:31:14,288 (soft clanking) 609 00:31:14,331 --> 00:31:15,622 it burns out, 610 00:31:16,834 --> 00:31:20,294 as faulty piston rings cause an engine meltdown 611 00:31:20,337 --> 00:31:23,046 at the 1965 british grand prix. 612 00:31:26,468 --> 00:31:29,094 But true to his problem solving style, 613 00:31:29,138 --> 00:31:31,513 honda rebuilds his race car. 614 00:31:33,309 --> 00:31:36,894 And in the next season's final race, shocks the field, 615 00:31:37,980 --> 00:31:40,522 winning the mexican grand prix. 616 00:31:40,566 --> 00:31:42,024 - Honda going from 617 00:31:42,067 --> 00:31:45,110 not producing cars to winning a grand prix race 618 00:31:45,154 --> 00:31:48,655 in under five years is amazing. 619 00:31:48,699 --> 00:31:49,990 - Congratulations! 620 00:31:50,034 --> 00:31:51,450 (crowd clapping) 621 00:31:51,493 --> 00:31:53,160 - [narrator] the victory confirms honda's 622 00:31:53,203 --> 00:31:54,786 car making ability 623 00:31:54,830 --> 00:31:58,123 and the government's threat to lock him out evaporates. 624 00:31:59,335 --> 00:32:03,295 A year later, he debut's his first passenger car, 625 00:32:03,339 --> 00:32:05,297 the honda n360, 626 00:32:05,341 --> 00:32:06,924 - before that honda is known 627 00:32:06,967 --> 00:32:09,176 for motorcycles and scooters, 628 00:32:09,219 --> 00:32:11,678 and after your first grand prix race, 629 00:32:11,722 --> 00:32:16,475 well that is a different animal altogether. 630 00:32:16,518 --> 00:32:17,726 (tense music) 631 00:32:17,770 --> 00:32:19,728 - [narrator] as honda takes home the cup, 632 00:32:20,981 --> 00:32:23,565 eiji toyoda is convinced he's found 633 00:32:23,609 --> 00:32:27,194 the winning formula for success in the united states. 634 00:32:27,237 --> 00:32:29,196 (tense music) 635 00:32:29,239 --> 00:32:30,781 - this. 636 00:32:30,824 --> 00:32:32,866 Let's get this into production straight away. 637 00:32:32,910 --> 00:32:34,910 - Edgerton had figured out that 638 00:32:34,954 --> 00:32:38,455 to penetrate the us market, 639 00:32:38,499 --> 00:32:39,748 toyota needed to be 640 00:32:39,792 --> 00:32:40,916 the best in the world 641 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,169 at creating small fuel-efficient cars. 642 00:32:44,213 --> 00:32:45,754 - [narrator] built with increased efficiency 643 00:32:45,798 --> 00:32:48,757 to control price and maximize quality, 644 00:32:48,801 --> 00:32:52,719 the new car is released in the u.S in 1968. 645 00:32:52,763 --> 00:32:54,554 (engine roaring) 646 00:32:54,598 --> 00:32:57,766 - zero to 60 in 12.6 seconds. 647 00:32:57,810 --> 00:32:59,059 - [narrator] it's called, 648 00:32:59,979 --> 00:33:00,978 the corolla. 649 00:33:02,231 --> 00:33:04,523 (air whooshing) 650 00:33:04,566 --> 00:33:08,193 - by the time toyota started to build the corolla, 651 00:33:08,237 --> 00:33:10,195 they had already almost perfected 652 00:33:10,239 --> 00:33:11,738 the chain of production system. 653 00:33:11,782 --> 00:33:14,282 So they could compete on costs, 654 00:33:14,326 --> 00:33:16,118 and also give additional features 655 00:33:16,161 --> 00:33:19,121 that the americans could not afford to add to their cars. 656 00:33:19,164 --> 00:33:20,497 - Reclining bucket seats. 657 00:33:20,541 --> 00:33:22,332 - Wow, carpeting. 658 00:33:22,376 --> 00:33:24,418 - You are hooked. 659 00:33:24,461 --> 00:33:27,921 - The toyota corolla offered automatic transmission, 660 00:33:27,965 --> 00:33:30,716 power windows, leather interior. 661 00:33:30,759 --> 00:33:31,967 All of these things 662 00:33:32,011 --> 00:33:34,302 that were considered luxury options, 663 00:33:34,346 --> 00:33:36,638 for a very affordable price. 664 00:33:36,682 --> 00:33:39,766 ♪ get your hands on a toyota corolla ♪ 665 00:33:39,810 --> 00:33:44,771 ♪ the plushest basic transportation in the u.S.A ♪ 666 00:33:45,941 --> 00:33:48,984 - [narrator] the corolla is an immediate hit. 667 00:33:49,028 --> 00:33:53,780 And by 1972, it pushes toyota to a major milestone. 668 00:33:53,824 --> 00:33:57,242 One million cars sold in the u.S 669 00:33:57,286 --> 00:34:00,787 it's now the second best selling import in america, 670 00:34:00,831 --> 00:34:03,415 behind the volkswagen beetle. 671 00:34:03,459 --> 00:34:06,501 Meanwhile, honda's racing to claim its share 672 00:34:06,545 --> 00:34:08,754 of the compact car market. 673 00:34:08,797 --> 00:34:11,840 And on July 11th that same year, 674 00:34:11,884 --> 00:34:15,343 the first honda civic arrives in the u.S. 675 00:34:16,555 --> 00:34:19,973 - It was a small compact and very practical car, 676 00:34:20,017 --> 00:34:21,641 but it was also fun to drive, 677 00:34:21,685 --> 00:34:24,186 and it was incredibly efficient. 678 00:34:24,229 --> 00:34:27,939 The honda civic quickly became one of the most popular 679 00:34:27,983 --> 00:34:30,150 compact cars sold in america. 680 00:34:31,028 --> 00:34:32,652 From that point on, 681 00:34:32,696 --> 00:34:35,113 there was always this constant battle 682 00:34:35,157 --> 00:34:38,158 in the marketplace between the civic and the toyota corolla. 683 00:34:39,286 --> 00:34:41,661 - [narrator] then just three months later, 684 00:34:41,705 --> 00:34:45,415 honda sees an opportunity to gain an edge. 685 00:34:46,543 --> 00:34:48,543 As most car makers scramble to comply 686 00:34:48,587 --> 00:34:50,962 with the 1970 clean air act, 687 00:34:51,006 --> 00:34:54,216 and major pollution controls going into effect, 688 00:34:54,259 --> 00:34:58,136 he declares publicly that he'll design an entirely new 689 00:34:58,180 --> 00:34:59,763 cleaner burning engine. 690 00:35:01,725 --> 00:35:05,852 Domestic car makers on the other hand, just add a part. 691 00:35:07,022 --> 00:35:08,855 - The solution the most american car companies 692 00:35:08,899 --> 00:35:09,815 were going with, 693 00:35:09,858 --> 00:35:11,399 was the catalytic converter. 694 00:35:11,443 --> 00:35:14,152 But in using these, you lose a lot of power. 695 00:35:14,196 --> 00:35:16,404 So the big three were not happy. 696 00:35:16,448 --> 00:35:20,367 - [narrator] in less than two years, honda delivers. 697 00:35:21,578 --> 00:35:25,539 Introducing the cvcc engine to the world. 698 00:35:25,582 --> 00:35:29,501 - The way it works is you burn a very small amount 699 00:35:29,545 --> 00:35:32,003 of super concentrated fuel, 700 00:35:32,047 --> 00:35:34,548 and that allows your engine to run smoother, 701 00:35:34,591 --> 00:35:38,051 and make more power while reducing the emissions. 702 00:35:38,095 --> 00:35:39,719 It was revolutionary. 703 00:35:39,763 --> 00:35:41,805 - [narrator] desperate to meet emission standards, 704 00:35:41,849 --> 00:35:45,308 ford and chrysler license honda's patented technology. 705 00:35:47,396 --> 00:35:48,728 (click) 706 00:35:48,772 --> 00:35:50,397 - you need to see this. 707 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:53,400 - But general motors not only refuses, 708 00:35:53,443 --> 00:35:57,487 it's ceo publicly insults honda engineering. 709 00:35:57,531 --> 00:35:59,698 - The head of gm, richard gerstenberg, 710 00:35:59,741 --> 00:36:03,660 he issued a statement when asked about if gm was interested 711 00:36:03,704 --> 00:36:06,913 in licensing the cvcc technology for their cars, 712 00:36:06,957 --> 00:36:09,291 where he basically said, 713 00:36:09,334 --> 00:36:12,752 "that kind of thing is fine for the little toy motorbike 714 00:36:12,796 --> 00:36:15,172 engines they make over at honda, 715 00:36:15,215 --> 00:36:18,425 but for a real car engine like we make at gm, 716 00:36:18,468 --> 00:36:20,760 there's no way it would ever work." 717 00:36:20,804 --> 00:36:22,929 and he said this in like a press conference. 718 00:36:22,973 --> 00:36:26,057 (tense music) 719 00:36:26,101 --> 00:36:29,269 and soichiro is not going to just let that slide. 720 00:36:29,313 --> 00:36:31,855 (tense music) 721 00:36:33,358 --> 00:36:35,192 - get me an american car. 722 00:36:40,032 --> 00:36:40,864 An impala. 723 00:36:41,992 --> 00:36:44,117 - Soichiro honda ranges for a brand new 724 00:36:44,161 --> 00:36:47,746 5.7 liter chevy impala, 725 00:36:47,789 --> 00:36:50,332 to be air freighted all the way to japan. 726 00:36:51,752 --> 00:36:54,502 And he has his engineers re-engineer 727 00:36:54,546 --> 00:36:56,963 the entire intake system of the car, 728 00:36:57,007 --> 00:36:58,215 to incorporate honda's 729 00:36:58,258 --> 00:36:59,883 cvcc technology, 730 00:36:59,927 --> 00:37:02,469 on this massive big gm v8. 731 00:37:03,931 --> 00:37:06,973 - [narrator] when honda ships the impala back to detroit, 732 00:37:07,017 --> 00:37:11,728 it passes the toughened emission test with flying colors. 733 00:37:11,772 --> 00:37:15,565 - I can't think of a bigger smack down mic drop 734 00:37:15,609 --> 00:37:17,484 in all of automotive history, 735 00:37:17,527 --> 00:37:20,654 than soichiro honda, sticking it to gm. 736 00:37:20,697 --> 00:37:24,199 - [narrator] powered by the revolutionary cvcc engine, 737 00:37:24,243 --> 00:37:26,660 the honda civic will go on to become 738 00:37:26,703 --> 00:37:30,038 the sixth best-selling car of all time. 739 00:37:31,208 --> 00:37:33,917 While honda proves his point to the americans, 740 00:37:35,837 --> 00:37:39,297 it's toyota with the corolla, 741 00:37:39,341 --> 00:37:40,131 (crowd clapping) who becomes 742 00:37:40,175 --> 00:37:41,758 the ultimate winner. 743 00:37:41,802 --> 00:37:44,636 - While honda was willing to take more engineering risks, 744 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:46,596 the cvcc engine for example, 745 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:50,100 toyota was very methodical when it came 746 00:37:50,143 --> 00:37:51,309 to their improvements. 747 00:37:51,353 --> 00:37:53,353 The corolla was kind of that sweet spot. 748 00:37:54,523 --> 00:37:56,648 - Toyota's production system was so efficient, 749 00:37:56,692 --> 00:37:57,899 they were able 750 00:37:57,943 --> 00:37:59,943 to build the corolla with many more features 751 00:37:59,987 --> 00:38:03,280 than you could for the same price in an american factory. 752 00:38:04,449 --> 00:38:07,200 - Toyota struck gold with the corolla. 753 00:38:07,244 --> 00:38:08,994 - [narrator] in 1974, 754 00:38:09,037 --> 00:38:13,873 the corolla outsells every other car on the planet, 755 00:38:13,917 --> 00:38:17,794 with over 600,000 units sold. 756 00:38:17,838 --> 00:38:19,629 - From eiji toyoda's perspective, 757 00:38:19,673 --> 00:38:22,799 that had to be an incredibly satisfying moment. 758 00:38:22,843 --> 00:38:25,468 If you look back 20 some odd years, 759 00:38:25,512 --> 00:38:28,179 when he was invited to the ford factory 760 00:38:28,223 --> 00:38:29,639 to check everything out, 761 00:38:29,683 --> 00:38:31,141 because they didn't think of him as a threat, 762 00:38:31,184 --> 00:38:33,852 to all of a sudden being one of the biggest new competitors 763 00:38:33,895 --> 00:38:35,562 in the automotive landscape. 764 00:38:36,273 --> 00:38:40,317 - And it really launched toyota as one of the elite players 765 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:41,443 in the global field. 766 00:38:43,071 --> 00:38:44,696 - [narrator] in 1997, 767 00:38:44,740 --> 00:38:48,325 the corolla reaches over 22 million in sales, 768 00:38:49,745 --> 00:38:51,578 passing the volkswagen beetle, 769 00:38:51,621 --> 00:38:54,664 to become the best selling car of all time. 770 00:38:56,710 --> 00:39:01,671 It goes on to sell almost 50 million worldwide and counting. 771 00:39:03,592 --> 00:39:08,261 Today, toyota is a leading car maker because of its focus 772 00:39:08,305 --> 00:39:10,347 on production efficiency. 773 00:39:10,390 --> 00:39:13,350 But it's the efficiency of the cars themselves, 774 00:39:13,393 --> 00:39:14,976 that's now revolutionary. 775 00:39:16,438 --> 00:39:19,564 - The future is more than likely not going to continue 776 00:39:19,608 --> 00:39:21,483 with combustion engine cars. 777 00:39:21,526 --> 00:39:24,944 Electric vehicles have proven that you can make a car 778 00:39:24,988 --> 00:39:28,615 that drives and performs as well or better 779 00:39:28,658 --> 00:39:29,949 than a combustion car, 780 00:39:29,993 --> 00:39:33,244 with a 10th of the amount of moving parts 781 00:39:33,288 --> 00:39:36,748 and zero pollutions from the car itself. 782 00:39:36,792 --> 00:39:40,293 - I believe the future of cars is electric. 783 00:39:40,337 --> 00:39:44,089 The performance is pretty mind numbing. 784 00:39:44,132 --> 00:39:47,092 - And in a lot of ways, where electric cars now are, 785 00:39:47,135 --> 00:39:50,720 is sort of where gasoline engine cars were 786 00:39:50,764 --> 00:39:52,305 in the early 1900s. 787 00:39:52,349 --> 00:39:54,682 They're just now established. 788 00:39:55,852 --> 00:39:57,519 But if you look deep into the future, 789 00:39:57,562 --> 00:40:00,730 it's clear that's where things are heading. 790 00:40:00,774 --> 00:40:03,650 (soft piano music) 791 00:40:03,693 --> 00:40:05,110 - the car industry 792 00:40:05,153 --> 00:40:08,905 is probably the first truly global industry 793 00:40:08,949 --> 00:40:10,365 that mobilized the world, 794 00:40:10,409 --> 00:40:13,952 and those early pioneers really changed the trajectory 795 00:40:13,995 --> 00:40:14,869 of mankind. 796 00:40:16,123 --> 00:40:18,581 - It's hard to think of another invention 797 00:40:18,625 --> 00:40:21,793 that has had a greater impact on our lives. 798 00:40:21,837 --> 00:40:22,961 I think we're living 799 00:40:23,004 --> 00:40:25,380 in the most exciting era of the automobile 800 00:40:25,424 --> 00:40:28,508 since it was invented more than a hundred years ago. 801 00:40:28,552 --> 00:40:31,928 Today we're sitting at the dawn of all of these 802 00:40:31,972 --> 00:40:34,431 new advanced technologies. 803 00:40:34,474 --> 00:40:36,182 - [narrator] these new innovators, 804 00:40:36,226 --> 00:40:39,936 follow in the footsteps of the cars' first trailblazers. 805 00:40:41,064 --> 00:40:42,355 - 50 years from now, 806 00:40:42,399 --> 00:40:45,567 the internal combustion engine may be dead. 807 00:40:45,610 --> 00:40:49,529 And it's exciting to see what will replace it. 808 00:40:49,573 --> 00:40:54,576 This is the most revolutionary era in car design since 809 00:40:55,745 --> 00:40:59,372 carl benz invented the first car back in 1886. 810 00:40:59,416 --> 00:41:02,041 And it's thrilling to be alive to witness it. 811 00:41:03,211 --> 00:41:05,712 - [narrator] wherever the future leads, 812 00:41:05,755 --> 00:41:07,797 it will be built on the foundation 813 00:41:07,841 --> 00:41:10,258 of a few visionary pioneers, 814 00:41:11,511 --> 00:41:14,471 as the next generation of inventors, 815 00:41:14,514 --> 00:41:16,764 leads us into a new world. 816 00:41:17,642 --> 00:41:19,309 Searching for that spark, 817 00:41:21,730 --> 00:41:22,896 of inspiration.