Toyota was once the largest automaker worldwide but faced a downfall. The document discusses Toyota's history from its founding in the 1930s to becoming a global brand, developing popular models like the Corolla and Prius. However, Toyota experienced a downfall due to major recall issues stemming from unreasonable overtime work and the global financial crisis that put financial pressure on the company. The author believes that while competition is important, companies should avoid extreme cost cutting that threatens workers and maintain careful quality control.