Toyota Remains World’s Top Automaker: Record 11.3 Million Cars Sold
Synopsis
Toyota Motor retained its rank as the world’s best-selling automaker after announcing that it sold a record 11.3 million vehicles around the world last year. The Japanese carmaker spent its sixth straight year in the top spot, buoyed by robust sales in the United States and Japan. That growth was driven largely by hybrid vehicles, which represented 42 per cent of sales. There is still fierce competition, especially in China, but Toyota’s judicious approach enabled it to outperform its rivals in tough global markets.
Toyota Motor remains the world’s No. 1 carmaker after selling a record 11.3 million cars and trucks worldwide. Toyota’s top ranking was announced Thursday in Japan and is its sixth straight win, driven by strong sales performance in the United States and Japan, particularly for hybrid models.
Toyota Sold 11.3 Million Vehicles
It’s highest ever on a global level to-date based on 2025. Toyota Motor said it sold 11.3 million vehicles globally in 2025, the most in its history for a single year. The number includes sales of both the Toyota and Lexus brands as well as those sold by its smaller units, Daihatsu and Hino Motors.
Group sales around the world grew by 4.6 per cent compared to last year. And it did so in order with a record year of sales. That sales growth helped Toyota remain the world’s largest automaker for a sixth year running. The Jan. 29 announcement from Toyota underscores just how strong the company is at a moment when many global automakers are struggling with tepid demand and sharper competition.
Toyota’s Lead Illustrates Power In Tough Global Car Market
Their performance is noteworthy in a difficult year for the auto industry. Volkswagen Group was the world’s second biggest, with vehicle sales falling 0.5% in 2025 to a little under 9 million vehicles.
Volkswagen has been paring its costs in Germany even as it faces stiff competition in China, the world’s biggest car market. Toyota’s capacity to increase while rivals shrink highlights the power of its product line and global reach. The results also indicate that traditional automakers can still prevail by giving customers a lineup of powertrain options, rather than betting the farm on fully electric vehicles.
Toyota’s Global Growth Is Driven By Key Markets
Much of Toyota’s shift in 2025 was due to growth in the United States and Japan, it said. Together, the two markets made up over 40% of the parent company’s sales in total.
Sales of vehicles under the Toyota and Lexus brands increased 3.7% to a record 10.5 million vehicles. A huge part of the puzzle was the soaring popularity of hybrid vehicles in the United States, as consumers searched for solutions that would save them money on gasoline without committing to electric cars.
The volume of exports from Japan to the United States rose 14.2%, to roughly 615,000 vehicles. The RAV4 was one of Toyota’s most popular models around the world.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• Toyota sold a record 11.3 million cars in 2025
• Global sales were up 4.6 per cent from a year earlier
• The US and Japan were Toyota’s two main markets
• Hybrid vehicles accounted for 42 per cent of sales overall
• Toyota is the world’s top automaker for a sixth straight year
Sales Level Off After More Than A Decade Of Decline
In China, Toyota’s vehicle sales barely rose in 2025, increasing by just 0.2%. The increase was slight, but it was the first time in four years that Apple managed to avoid an annual decline in sales for the Chinese market.
This is impressive in light of competition from local brands as well as the electric vehicle manufacturers. Sales at many foreign automakers have plunged in China, so Toyota’s stabilisation is a relative bright spot. Toyota’s wide range of offerings and focus on hybrids seemed to have played a role in limiting losses in the competitive market.
Petrol-Electric Vehicles Dominate Sales Mix
Hybrid technology still played a major role in Toyota’s lineup in 2025. Gasoline-electric hybrids made up 42 per cent of the company’s global sales.
By contrast, battery-electric vehicles accounted for just 1.9% of total sales. That highlights Toyota’s continuing emphasis on hybrids rather than a forceful foray into electric cars. And the formula still resonates with buyers seeking better fuel economy without worrying about charging infrastructure or how far they can drive.
Toyota Aims To Protect Its Worldwide Position
Toyota begins 2026 as the dominant global sales leader but a fierce battle is looming and competition remains tough as rivals plough money into electric vehicles, cost-cutting and new technology.
The balanced approach across hybrids, petrol and selective electric models is paying off for Toyota, for now. Strong demand in the US and Japan will be key as it seeks to defend its number one position for a seventh year running. How fast the global market shifts toward electric vehicles will be a big factor in determining Toyota’s direction going forward.
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