On the Dash:
- Toyota’s global output fell 3.9% to 749,673 vehicles, marking four straight months of production declines.
- U.S. sales increased 3.2% to 180,950 units, driven by strong demand for hybrids despite broader global softness.
- China remains a pressure point, with production down 11.5% and sales down 13.9%.
Toyota reported Monday that its global output declined 3.9% year over year in February to 749,673 vehicles, marking the fourth consecutive month of production decreases. The decline was driven by slowing output in China and Japan.
Global sales fell 3.3% from a year earlier to 737,134 units, representing the first decline in three months for the world’s largest automaker by volume.
Overseas production dropped 4.6% to 470,757 vehicles. Within that total, production in China fell sharply by 11.5% to 78,457 units, impacted by intensifying competition and fewer working days tied to the Lunar New Year holiday period.
Domestic production in Japan decreased 2.6% to 278,916 vehicles, also reflecting reduced operating days. In North America, output declined 9.1% to 159,237 vehicles, primarily due to a model changeover involving the RAV4 SUV. However, production in the United States increased 3.4 percent to 110,978 vehicles.
On the sales side, overseas deliveries declined 2.2% to 614,870 vehicles. Despite this, U.S. sales rose 3.2% to 180,950 units, supported by sustained demand for hybrid vehicles.
In Japan, sales fell 8.3% to 122,264 units, affected by a drop in registrations ahead of an anticipated abolition of an environmental tax. China also recorded a significant decline, with sales dropping 13.9% to 82,471 vehicles.
