Scandals aside, Toyota still reigns as world's top-selling car manufacturer

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite a string of scandals, Toyota Motor Corporation just flexed its muscles as the world's top car seller, cruising into the record books with a whopping 10.3 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles flying off the lots in 2023. That's a 7.7% leap from the year before, keeping them in the lead for the fourth straight year.

Volkswagen? The other top selling car manufacturer? Well, they trailed Toyota with only 9.24 million in sales.

Here's the breakdown: Toyota itself moved 9.48 million vehicles, and Lexus added a cool 824,000 to the tally, marking a massive 132% jump.

Don't forget about Daihatsu and Hino, though. Daihatsu did its bit with 790,000 vehicles, while Hino pitched in with 135,000.

All in all, Toyota's global sales, including their truck division, hit an impressive 11.23 million. Exports were up too, by 4.1% in 2023. The US, as Toyota's biggest fan, snapped up over 2.6 million cars.

Now, here's a twist: while everyone's buzzing about electric vehicles (EVs), Toyota's still playing it cool with traditional engines. Of the 11.23 million cars sold, only 3.42 million were hybrids, and EVs were just 1% of the mix, at 104,000 units.

But don't count Toyota out of the EV race just yet. They're gearing up to amp up their electric game in the coming years. For now, they're riding high with 1 in every 8 cars sold globally in 2023 being a Toyota. That's some serious street cred!

Right here in Malaysia, UMW Toyota has let the cat out of the bag with their 2023 sales figures, clocking in at a solid 108,107 units. But, hold your horses, they haven't clinched the title of the top-selling non-national passenger vehicle brand – that honor goes to Honda. Seems like, unlike in the US, the Toyota fan club in Malaysia is strong but just not quite as robust as the Honda enthusiasts, especially in the passenger vehicle arena.

With Toyota gearing up to launch some snazzy hybrids this year, like the Yaris Cross Hybrid, Vios Hybrid, and Camry Hybrid, they might just zoom ahead of Honda in 2024. It's going to be an electrifying race, especially now that Toyota's joining the hybrid showdown with some serious contenders.

Honda's been ruling the roost for a few years now with its wide array of hybrids, but with Toyota stepping into the hybrid ring for the first time, we're all revved up to see how this competition plays out. Stay tuned – it's going to be a thrilling ride!

Also Read:  UMW Toyota sold 108,107 units in 2023 with a 7% Y-o-Y growth