Toyota Retains Global Auto Sales Crown in 2025 With Record 11.3 Million Vehicles Sold

Toyota Motor Corporation has once again secured its position as the world’s top-selling automaker, reporting record global vehicle sales of 11.3 million units in 2025. The Japanese automotive giant announced on Thursday that it has retained its global sales crown for the sixth consecutive year, underscoring its resilience and strong demand across key markets despite ongoing challenges in the global auto industry.

Global group sales rose 4.6% year over year, driven by solid performance from Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles, along with contributions from its small-car subsidiary Daihatsu and truck manufacturer Hino Motors. Toyota and Lexus alone sold a combined 10.5 million vehicles in 2025, marking an all-time high and reflecting a 3.7% increase from the previous year.

Toyota’s continued dominance contrasts sharply with its closest competitor, Volkswagen Group. The German automaker reported a 0.5% decline in unit sales to just under 9 million vehicles in 2025, as it faces cost-cutting pressures in Europe and intensifying competition in China, the world’s largest automotive market.

Growth for Toyota was primarily fueled by strong sales in the United States and Japan, which together accounted for more than 40% of the parent company’s total vehicle sales. Demand in the U.S. was especially robust for gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, a segment where Toyota maintains a significant competitive edge. Hybrid models accounted for 42% of Toyota’s global sales, highlighting the company’s strategic focus on fuel-efficient and transitional electrification technologies.

Exports from Japan to the U.S. surged 14.2% to approximately 615,000 vehicles, with popular models such as the RAV4 SUV playing a key role in driving demand. In China, Toyota’s sales edged up 0.2%, marking the first year in four years without a decline, despite fierce competition from domestic electric vehicle manufacturers.

While battery-electric vehicles represented only 1.9% of Toyota’s global sales, the company’s balanced approach to electrification continues to resonate with consumers worldwide, reinforcing its leadership in the global automotive market.