Key facts
- Toyota's global production and sales declined in the first half of the year.
- Global sales fell 2.9% to over 5 million vehicles.
- China experienced a 17.1% decrease in sales.
- Global vehicle production decreased by 1.2% to under 4.9 million vehicles.
- May marked Toyota's fourth consecutive month of lower global sales.
- Global EV sales increased by 170% in May.
Toyota Motor Corporation reported that its global production and sales fell in the first half of the year for the first time in two years. The decline was attributed to weaker demand in China and a model changeover for its popular RAV4 sport utility vehicle.
Global sales for January-June decreased by 2.9% year-on-year to just over 5 million vehicles. This drop was largely due to a 17.1% decline in sales in China, which offset stronger demand in North America and Japan. Global vehicle production also shrank by 1.2% year-on-year to under 4.9 million vehicles during the same period.
For the month of June alone, global sales saw a slight increase of 0.1% to 868,454 vehicles, with production up 2.9% at 879,321 cars. Toyota's figures encompass sales and production from its luxury brand, Lexus.
In May, Toyota experienced its fourth consecutive month of lower global sales compared to the previous year, with overall sales falling 7.2% to 834,279 units. While demand remained steady in key markets like North America, Europe, and Japan, sales in China plummeted by 31.7% to 102,299 units in May, contributing to a 15% decrease in China for the period through May 2026. The company cited a challenging market environment and rising gasoline prices for the downturn in China.
Despite the overall sales dip, Toyota's electric vehicle (EV) sales saw significant growth, jumping 170% in May to 37,313 units. Year-to-date through May, Toyota sold 155,074 battery electric vehicles (BEVs), a 138% increase from the same period in 2025. However, pure-electric vehicles still represent only 7% of Toyota's total sales.