Physical engineering is a much older discipline and has/had (this is 7 years ago in my company) much more respect as a "real" career socially in corporate life.

Physical engineering is a much older discipline and has/had (this is 7 years ago in my company) much more respect as a "real" career socially in corporate life. Makers of physical things tend(ed) to get more respect. I don't have any special insight into Toyota outside of some anecdotal stories from friends though.