Despite what have undoubtedly been some of the most trying times for many over the past 24 months, it would seem as though the motor vehicle industry has soldiered on, despite the woes, supply-chain issues and myriad stresses presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Rolls-Royce having reported a record year in 2021 with a record 49% increase in sales from 2020, and Lamborghini having sold 8 405 units, a 13% growth over 2020, it would seem as though motor car manufacturers have sprung back with exceptional and in some cases record sales numbers.
The latest to report remarkable sales figures is Toyota whose sales numbers grew by 10,6% in 2021, dethroning GM and their 90-year run as best-selling brand in the US, and selling a total of 9,6 million units globally in 2021. For the second year in a row, Toyota takes the title as the world’s best selling vehicle manufacturer. To put their 10,6% growth into perspective, the motor giant’s closest competitor, Volkswagen Group, sold 4,8 million fewer cars over the twelve-month period…
A significant growth of 33,8% in the sales of Toyota EV’s and hybrids was also recorded, amounting to a total of 2,6 million vehicles in 2021. Contributing to this was local production of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, the first Toyota hybrid to be manufactured in South Africa and an important statement of intent for the brand locally. It’s no secret that the local manufacturing of EV’s and hybrids needs to be expedited, and Toyota are the first to have started the process in this regard.
Toyota have attributed this impressive growth to supply-chain preparation, as well as stockpiling before the semiconductor shortage wrought havoc in the automotive sector.
