- Toyota’s global sales fell 7.4% in May to 885,207 units, a fourth straight monthly decline.
- China weakness, Middle East shipping disruption, and the RAV4 changeover drove the slide.
- EV sales bucked the trend, jumping 170% to 37,313 units.
Toyota Motor Corp. reported its fourth consecutive monthly decline in global sales in May. Worldwide sales fell 7.4% from a year earlier to 885,207 units, according to the company’s May sales report.
The drop extends a slide that ran through the spring, including declines reported in March and April. Toyota blames weak demand in China, the conflict in Iran and the changeover to the all-new RAV4 for the declines.
US sales slipped just 0.6% to 238,800 units in May. The market held firm through the changeover to the all-new RAV4, helped by rising demand for hybrid and electric models.
China remained Toyota’s weakest major market, where sales fell 31.7% to 102,299 units. The company tied the result to a tough market and rising gasoline prices.
Sales across the Middle East dropped even harder, falling 38.6% from a year earlier. Bloomberg attributed that decline to the Iran conflict and shipping disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, which slowed deliveries across the region.
Several markets still grew during the month. Sales in Japan rose 11.1% to 118,381 units as buyers responded to the new RAV4 and the bZ4X. India climbed 15.3% to 30,227 units on strong demand for locally built models, including the Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Innova Hycross.
Electric vehicles delivered Toyota’s strongest growth of the month. Global EV sales jumped 170% from a year earlier to 37,313 units. Through May, Toyota sold 155,074 battery electric vehicles worldwide, up 138% from the same period in 2025. Pure-electric models still account for only about 7% of the company’s total sales this year.
For dealers, the decline reflects supply problems overseas more than weak demand at home. The RAV4 transition should ease as the new model reaches more showrooms, and tight inventory should loosen as stock rebuilds.
