Toyota sales, production recovering from Covid-19 faster than expected, now at 90% of 2019 level

Toyota sales, production recovering from Covid-19 faster than expected, now at 90% of 2019 level

Covid-19 has destroyed the world economy and people across the world have put off buying big ticket items such as cars to weather the storm. Now that statement sounds pretty legit, and you might have even heard it from the many pessimists around, but is it true?

So, global lockdowns and Malaysia’s movement control order (MCO) were really bad for businesses, but have we turned the corner? The queues at shops with sales, and how fast sizes run out online seem to hint at it. In our car scene, the government’s sales tax waiver has seen some car companies run out of stock – yes, Malaysians are buying one hundred thousand ringgit cars to save a few thousand ringgit. And it’s not just here, too.

Toyota has announced that global sales in July 2020 (including that of subsidiaries Daihatsu and Hino) were down just 12% from the same month in 2019, recovering at a faster than expected pace. The recovery is being driven primarily by China (+19.1%), the US (-19%), Europe (+14.5%), and Japan (-17%). In June, it was China +22.8%, US -26.2%, Europe -11.5% and Japan -22.7%.

Toyota sales, production recovering from Covid-19 faster than expected, now at 90% of 2019 level

Toyota’s projections for worldwide sales were around -15% from July to September, around -5% from October to December, and around +5% from January to March 2021, with an expected return to the previous year’s levels around the end of 2020 to the beginning of 2021.

Global production in July was down 10.2% year-on-year (compared to down 24% y-o-y in June), and the recovery trend is continuing. Production in the US and China exceeded previous year’s levels (RAV4 and Camry are strong in China; pick-up trucks, Camry and Highlander Hybrid selling well in America), and domestic production in Japan recovered to 78% of 2019’s level.

Cumulative year-to-date sales for the first seven months of the year stood at 3,783,751 units, which is 21.5% lower than Jan-July 2019. YTD production is 4,719,924 units, down 26.1%. With a strong global presence across regions, Toyota’s sales and production results are a decent barometer for the auto industry’s health. We’ll look out for other signs, but it could be business as usual sooner than we think.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • suomynona on Aug 28, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    Strong lineup of new models Yaris, Altis, Harrier, RAV4, Camry. pipu noe Toyota high Resale value.

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    • Chavez on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:07 pm

      People also know Jepunis prone to dangerous fuel pump failures.

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      • newme on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:09 pm

        Better than China made. China ripoff is even worst.

        Thumb up 5 Thumb down 55
        • Rakyat Malaysia on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:26 pm

          Ripoff but got no engine issues better than unreliable japanese brands. We want car to drive, not spending time at workshops.

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          • Sam Loo on Aug 29, 2020 at 2:46 pm

            Toyota is reliable. Toyota > all

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          • Toyota reliable to get problems. Guarantee you will have some problems.

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          • Majid on Aug 31, 2020 at 11:32 am

            Proton salesman told me life is so tough now with sales super bad. How come Toyota is doing so well?

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          • Helmy Kadir on Aug 31, 2020 at 6:15 pm

            Is this why sales of Toyota have gone normal and Proton still not even 50% yet?

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        • yawnz on Aug 28, 2020 at 6:59 pm

          Fuel pump sudah tukar ke belum? Jangan jadi bahaya di jalanraya tau.

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          • Razali Toh Juan on Aug 31, 2020 at 6:18 pm

            Toyota so expensive also but the sales can become 90%

            Amazing!!!!! To the bashers ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

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          • Because in the rest of the world, Toyota is just a cheap car. Only in Mesia, Japanese fanbois sujud their car brand giving them reason to make it more expensive every year.

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        • Dato Dr Hj Yaakop Ismail on Aug 29, 2020 at 10:34 am

          This is great news. Everybody in Malaysia trust Toyota quality.

          Everybody now so malu and struggling in sales but Toyota is back to 90%

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          • yawnz on Aug 29, 2020 at 9:26 pm

            In Singapore, a first world country, toyotas are everywhere. People trust the quality. Toyota is simply just the best.

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          • Not all of them. People will buy trusted other brands too besides Toyota.

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      • The highest fuel pump problem for japanese brand is Honda, while other Japanese brands have least issue

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        • Dato Dr Hj Yaakop Ismail on Aug 29, 2020 at 10:47 am

          All those who condemn Toyta now so malu. If it is so bad, how come peope are buying Toyota back again despite of Covid?

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          • Ribinsons on Aug 30, 2020 at 9:00 am

            The same for those who condemn p1, mazda, bmw, nissan and hyundai. Yet in the end, same thing, how come people also buy these brands again too despite of Covid?

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  • M & B on Aug 28, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    Still Toyota are far stronger same goes to geely/proton, mazda and nissan.

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    • newme on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:11 pm

      Geely and proton are different league. They can only sell in kenya, nigeria, libya, somalia and not first wprld countries.

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      • Rakyat Malaysia on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:24 pm

        And that is why Geely is financially healthier than Toyota. Toyota asked for help, Geely didn’t do that. 10 years ago, Geely could buy over Volvo. In next 10 years, Geely will be able to afford a Toyota buyout.

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      • Yes bro. Geely and Proton is playing in EPL while Toyota quality is Liga Perdana level.

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      • Lolwhut? on Aug 29, 2020 at 8:48 am

        The fanboyism hate-train keeps chugging along. CHOO! CHOO! CHOO! CHOO!

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        • Lolwutt on Aug 29, 2020 at 2:44 pm

          Same goes for you lah. Anything that is not proton or Geely is not good to you right??

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          • LOL! Newme is well known to be hate-filled troll second only to Kunta. Why do he have to bring Proton/Geely into every discussion. LOL!

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          • Edwin L on Aug 31, 2020 at 10:55 am

            newme & Kunta komen full of facts & based on meritocracy. no bias & colors,

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        • Brian on Aug 30, 2020 at 10:22 am

          You must be delusional if you’d think @Lolwhut spewed the kind of vitriol that you did. Yes, you, the same namechanger/ namehijacker hater.

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  • powerbank on Aug 28, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    Toyota all the way. Be strong

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  • Celup King on Aug 28, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Meanwhile Toyota still shamelessly begging for 1 trillion yen bailout by Gomen.

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  • seancorr (Member) on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    No worries for Toyota but other brands like Renault and Nissan are posting massive losses instead.

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    • YB Albert on Aug 28, 2020 at 5:18 pm

      NO matter what critics say..TOYOTA is a money making machine.It churns out millions of reliable vehicles that appeal to the masses of hardcore car enthusiasts,with record profits,only slightly dented by covid.
      Nissan with a horrendouly bad tie up with the French car dudes,together with bad Jatco transmissions and conman CEO GHosn fell into the money pit.They should have divorced the French automakers long ago.

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      • Smoke Gets In My Eyes on Aug 28, 2020 at 10:20 pm

        Bad tie up with the French? What are you smoking dude. If it wasnt for the French, Nissan wouldnt exist today, long ago bankrupted.

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        • Dato Dr Hj Yaakop Ismail on Aug 29, 2020 at 10:58 am

          sounds like a certain car company. Without China, it would be bankrupt completely

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        • Huge difference! Nissan & Mitsu are still asking for billions in govt bailout. The certain car company has not taken a single sen of taxpayer money ever since.

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      • Dato Dr Hj Yaakop Ismail on Aug 29, 2020 at 10:36 am

        Toyota sales just say it all. All others like to brag but now see, their yearly sales so low this year. But Toyota is doing so well.

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        • Edwin L on Aug 30, 2020 at 2:59 pm

          Sale so many but kiamsiap stingy to do right and replace their faulty fuel pumps. Reputation straight went down the longkang as like their cars.

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    • M & B on Aug 28, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      Yeah sadly for Nissan. But one day, you wouldn’t know that Nissan will reign and stronger again

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    • No duh! With a 1trillion yen loan, any losses will become profit

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  • Meanwhile Honda bragged about taking No.1 spot in C and D segments car in Mesia. Only in Mesia. Toyota goes GLOBAL and takes top spot in America and China.

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    • Crown on Aug 28, 2020 at 10:43 pm

      Haha! But still honda selling cars for latest in malaysia are becoming lesser due to outdated crap designs

      Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
 

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