Hybrids Power Toyota’s European Sales

Toyota Motor Europe reports a strong start to vehicle sales in Europe with the first quarter showing a 10% year-on-year uptick across its brands.

Toyota retains its position as the second best-selling passenger-car brand with sales growth of 8% year-on-year, while Lexus maintains its position as one of Europe fastest-growing premium brands as sales continued to surge with growth of 48% year-on-year. The commercial vehicle division, Toyota Professional, also jumped with volume growth of 22% compared to the same quarter last year. The group’s overall electrified sales mix across Europe stands at 72% of total sales.

In numbers of vehicles sold, Toyota notched up 300,577 units with the brand’s top sellers including Yaris, Corolla and the new Toyota C-HR. Toyota’s overall electrified sales mix was 71%, sales, increasing 7% year-on-year. Sales of battery-electric vehicles in the first quarter were up 39% year-on-year, albeit just 10,229 vehicles were sold. Toyota Professional’s light commercial vehicle sales increased to 40,852 vehicles, up 22% year-on-year.

Lexus increased 48% year-on-year with 19,160 vehicles sold. Its electrified sales mix accounted for 93% of total sales and almost 100% in West Europe. Lexus’ accelerated sales growth stems from the brand’s strong offensive in the D-E Premium SUV segment, providing a choice of self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric powertrains across three models, NX, RX and the RZ BEV.

Matt Harrison, chief corporate officer, at Toyota Motor Europe, says: “We are delighted that our sales momentum has continued to grow into the first quarter of 2024. Order banks for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell and battery-electric products remain at a high level, reconfirming customer enthusiasm for our multi-path approach for carbon reduction and the power of our products, brands and retail partners.”