Toyota hybrid sales break records in 2024

TAKING the daring step not too long ago to promote solely hybrid-powered passenger vehicles has proved to be a grasp stroke for Toyota because it’s given the Japanese producer a significant increase in 2024 when it chalked up document gross sales of 241,296 pushed partially by document hybrid gross sales (of 118,081 items).

Toyota says hybrid-electric automobiles now make up near half its annual gross sales – a proportion that’s prone to improve this 12 months as gentle obligation SUVs be a part of the corporate’s passenger vehicles with hybrid solely powertrains.

The massively standard RAV4 medium dimension SUV underlines this shift in route being the number-one-selling car Down Below in 2024 at 58,718 items all instructed, most of which had been hybrid powered.

It accounted for the lion’s share of hybrid gross sales within the broader market and from Toyota’s perspective, bested the perennially standard HiLux one-tonne ute that had been the Large T’s number-one-seller for years.

Gross sales of Toyota hybrids have been percolating slowly because the introduction of the primary Prius again in 2001 however accelerated to exponential gross sales progress prior to now few years as consumers warmed to the low emission, low gasoline consumption know-how.

The rise in recognition additionally corresponded to an uptick in each efficiency and economic system from Toyota’s hybrid powertrains a great instance being the Camry hybrid which was on par with or probably outpaced the earlier 3.5-litre V6 for efficiency whereas utilizing about half the quantity of gasoline.

Although a very long time within the making, Toyota’s cumulative hybrid car gross sales now tally over 500,000 examples, 1 / 4 of which had been bought in 2024 at 118,081 items representing a rise of 45,997 automobiles or 63.8 per cent in contrast with the 72,084 Toyota hybrids retailed within the earlier 12 months.

Toyota says 2024 is the primary time that gross sales of vehicles powered by hybrid know-how have reached six figures in a calendar 12 months, both from a single model or from your entire trade.

“Hybrid-electric automobiles accounted for 48.9 per cent of Toyota’s 2024 gross sales, a brand new excessive in contrast with 33.5 per cent within the earlier 12 months,” the corporate extolled in a media launch.

“Including the bZ4X SUV and Mirai ends in an electrified gross sales share for Toyota of 49.3 per cent.”

Toyota hypothesises that if its HEVs had been categorised as a separate franchise, they’d take the runners-up place on the gross sales podium – narrowly behind Toyota’s gross sales of petrol-only and diesel automobiles.

The RAV4 hybrid lead to 2024 reveals it topped the hybrid gross sales charts for the second 12 months working with 55,902 deliveries, or greater than double the 25,666 that had been bought in 2023.

Toyota says the mid-size SUV can be Australia’s hottest hybrid of all time with a grand complete of 167,776 gross sales – achieved in fewer than six years.

Additional, Toyota says gross sales information present accelerating recognition of hybrid-electric know-how as evident in the truth that it took 19 years (till 2020) for Toyota’s annual hybrid gross sales to move 50,000 vehicles – however simply 4 extra years to double the promoting price to past 100,000 HEVs a 12 months.

Talking with media at a latest occasion in Sydney, Toyota Australia vice chairman of gross sales, advertising and franchise operations Sean Hanley mentioned the most recent figures mirrored the fact of robust client demand for hybrid-electric automobiles.

“Australians are tightening their belts throughout the board and, with petrol costs hovering at about $2.00 a litre, hybrids are a horny proposition,” he mentioned.

“Our order consumption all through the previous two years has confirmed an extremely robust client desire for Toyota’s hybrid automobiles, though this was not totally mirrored in month-to-month gross sales stories as a consequence of earlier provide shortages.

“With provide now again to regular for many of our vary, the 2024 figures show that buyers regard Toyota hybrids as succesful, sensible and inexpensive vehicles that may assist them scale back their gasoline consumption and carbon footprint – at present.

“This has been amply demonstrated by the success of RAV4, which has been Australia’s best-selling automobile for every of the previous six months.”

Toyota hybrid gross sales (2024)*:

Toyota hybrid gross sales (all-time)*:

*Figures provided by Toyota Australia.