Toyota sold only 18 electric cars in Japan last month (3 photos)

Toyota sales continue to grow

Toyota continues to show positive sales dynamics, thanks in part to a small increase in August, which added to the already successful results of the first eight months of the year. At the current pace, Toyota has every chance of surpassing the 10.8 million vehicles sold worldwide in 2024.

Report details and anomalies

However, a careful analysis of the company's latest report reveals some striking details, or anomalies. For example, in August, only 18 battery-electric vehicles were sold in Japan’s domestic market.

Positive and negative trends

The good news for Toyota is that the company sold 7,409,273 vehicles under its Toyota, Daihatsu, Hino and Lexus brands this year, up 6.2% from last year. However, growth slowed to 900,598 units in August, down 1.3% from the same month last year. More worrisome was the decline in the domestic market, where Toyota Group sales in Japan fell 10.2% in August, despite an overall growth of 17.8% since the beginning of the year.

Excluding Daihatsu and Hino, Toyota and Lexus sales in Japan fell 12.1% last month to 96,269 units. The slowdown was attributed to operational difficulties and delivery delays related to problems in the Kamchatka Peninsula, as well as the fallout from last year’s massive Prius recall.

Sales of battery-powered electric vehicles

The report also highlights Toyota and Lexus’ success in electrified models. Globally, electric vehicle sales have risen 20.6% to 117,031 units since the start of the year. However, the picture is starkly different in Japan. Sales of battery-powered electric vehicles fell 84.9% in August to just 18 units. In the first eight months, a total of 469 such vehicles were sold in Toyota’s domestic market, down 71.1% from last year.



The decline comes despite total sales of electrified vehicles in Japan rising 8.8% this year to 617,947 units. The vast majority of these are Toyota’s traditional hybrid models, which account for 603,676 sales. In addition, the company sold 13,551 plug-in hybrids and 251 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Japan this year.

Growth overseas

Outside Japan, Toyota’s electric vehicle business is moving in the opposite direction. Global demand has strengthened, with 117,031 EVs sold this year, a significant 20.6% increase. August was particularly strong, with 17,056 units sold, up 34.5% from the same month last year.



The figures highlight how Toyota’s electrification strategy can vary significantly by region. While global figures are rising, the domestic market remains conservative, favoring hybrid technology. This disparity could indicate cultural, economic or infrastructural factors that are influencing the acceptance of EVs in different countries. Perhaps the company is focusing on other types of electrified vehicles, such as hydrogen models, which is also reflected in its Japanese statistics.