Toyota Reports First-Half Sales Decline
Synopsis
The world's largest automaker posted its first first-half drop in global sales and production in two years, driven by weaker demand in China.
Key Highlights
- Toyota global production and sales declined in the first half of 2026 for the first time in two years.
- Weaker Chinese demand and this year’s RAV4 model transition hurt results.
- June global sales and production were both higher than a year earlier.
Toyota Motor Co said on Thursday its global production and sales fell in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, reversing two years of increases, hampered by weaker demand in China and a changeover for its RAV4 sport utility vehicle.
China Weakness Hits Sales
Global sales January to June were down 2.9% on the same period a year earlier at just over 5 million vehicles.
A 17.1% fall in China countered gains elsewhere, particularly in North America and Japan. In the first six months of the year, global vehicle production slipped 1.2% y/y to below 4.9mn vehicles (down +0.6%).
June Performance Improves
Worldwide sales stood at 868,454 vehicles in June, a rise of just 0.1% year-on-year, while production increased by 2.9% over the same period to reach 879,321 units. Toyota’s numbers include sales and production for its luxury brand Lexus.
Source: Reuters
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