2021 (Full Year) Global: Toyota Worldwide Car Sales, Production, and Exports

In 2021, Toyota Group (including Toyota brand, Lexus, Daihatsu, and Hino) increased global car sales, worldwide production, and vehicle exports from Japan.

In 2021, Toyota Group (including Toyota brand, Lexus, Daihatsu, and Hino) increased global sales, worldwide production, and exports from Japan.
Toyota GR GT3 Concept at Tokyo Auto Show 2022 © Toyota

In full-calendar-year 2021, global sales of the Toyota Group increased by 10.1% to nearly 10.5 million vehicles to maintain the title as the world’s largest carmaker. The Toyota brand performed strongly with worldwide sales up by 10.6% while the brand gained market share in Japan despite weaker domestic sales. Global car production of the Toyota group increased by 9.4% in 2021 to just over 10 million vehicles despite ongoing production issues with a shortage in semiconductors and COVID restrictions in many countries. Toyota Motor Corporation’s car exports from Japan increased by 1.6% to just more than 1.8 million vehicles. The United States remained the largest new car market for Toyota and Lexus.

Global Toyota Group Worldwide Car Sales in 2021

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) reported worldwide car sales as follows for the Toyota brand (including Lexus), Daihatsu, and Hino:

 ToyotaDaihatsuHinoTotal (TMC)
Worldwide sales9,615,157(10.6)725,179(4.5)155,212(9.1)10,495,548(10.1)
Sales inside of Japan:    
Incl. minivehicles1,476,136(-1.9)572,739(-3.3)59,935(-0.2)2,108,810(-2.2)
Market share33.2(0.5)― ― 47.4(0.5)
Excl. minivehicles1,440,716(-2.2)― ― ― 
Market share51.5(0.4)― ― ― 
Sales outside of Japan8,139,021(13.2)152,440(50.2)95,277(15.9)8,386,738(13.8)

For the Toyota brand (including Lexus), sales in 2021 recovered to near the record 9,714,253 cars sold in 2019. In Japan, sales were slightly weaker but Toyota increased market share to nearly a third of the total vehicle market, and over 50% if minicars, which are not sold under the Toyota brand, are excluded. The Toyota Yaris, Toyota Roomy, and Toyota Corolla were the top-selling car models in Japan in 2021 – eight of the top-ten cars were Toyotas.

Daihatsu increased global sales in 2021 but the worldwide total was still well below the 848,182 cars sold in 2019 (and 875,662 in 2012). Daihatsu was the top-selling mini-vehicle producer in Japan in 2021 with its commercial vehicles outperforming other brands while it was outsold by Suzuki in the mini passenger car category.

Toyota group worldwide sales increased by 10% with sales up nearly a million from the 9,528,438 cars sold globally in 2020.

Toyota and Lexus Sales by Market and Country in 2021

Global Toyota brand (including Lexus) sales by major market and country were as follows in 2021:

REGION: / CountrySales% 21/20
WORLDWIDE SALES:9,615,15710.6
OUTSIDE JAPAN:8,139,02113.2
NORTH AMERICA:2,681,21911.3
U.S. (incl. Hawaii)2,332,26210.4
Canada225,21517.7
Mexico91,14519.0
Other32,59720.1
LATIN AMERICA:385,24637.5
Brazil173,47528.6
Argentina69,91335.3
Other141,85851.4
EUROPE:1,037,1267.8
U.K.128,33411.8
Russia119,1784.6
France107,558-0.3
Italy87,2374.5
Germany81,061-6.7
Spain72,5617.6
Other441,19713.9
ASIA:3,135,22813.2
China (incl. Hong Kong and Macau)1,944,0108.2
Indonesia291,49958.7
Thailand239,723-1.9
Philippines129,66729.6
Taiwan146,009-0.2
Malaysia72,39422.0
Pakistan69,12464.5
Vietnam69,002-4.3
Republic of Korea16,2027.5
Other157,59845.5
JAPAN:1,476,136-1.9
OCEANIA:273,76812.4
Australia232,9329.0
Other40,83636.8
MIDDLE EAST:418,61216.6
GCC*331,78614.9
Other86,82623.6
AFRICA205,75024.7
South Africa115,12630.8
Other90,62417.6
OTHERS:2,07211.8

The USA remained the most important new car market for Toyota in 2021. China was the second-largest country market followed by Japan. Toyota increased car sales in all major country markets in 2021.

Toyota Car Production Worldwide in 2021 (Full Year)

Toyota reported global production by brand as follows for full-year 2021:

Production Results

 ToyotaDaihatsuHinoTotal
Worldwide production8,583,985(8.5)1,321,741(12.6)170,520(31.1)10,076,246(9.4)
Production inside of Japan2,877,962(-1.5)875,763(-3.8)137,249(23.4)3,890,974(-1.4)
Production outside of Japan5,706,023(14.4)445,978(69.6)33,271(76.2)6,185,272(17.4)

In 2021, Toyota’s car production increased for the first time in two years, although production was slightly lower in Japan for the third consecutive year.

For the combined Toyota Group, worldwide production increased in 2021 — prior to 2020, Toyota expanded production for five consecutive years. Production in Japan was lower for the second consecutive year with the supply chain issues related to semiconductors especially problematic towards the end of the year.

Toyota Car Export Sales Results in 2021

Toyota car exports from Japan for sales in worldwide markets were as follows in 2021:

 ToyotaDaihatsuHinoTotal
Exports1,757,340(0.5)0(―)66,128(42.2)1,823,468(1.6)

For both the Toyota Group and brand, exports from Japan increased slightly in 2021. Prior to 2020, exports grew for three consecutive years.

Global Worldwide Car Sales by Brand in 2021 (Full Year)

Global worldwide sales by brand in 2021:

“Sales” as reported by the various brands generally refer to deliveries and not necessarily sales to the customer or final registration. Terms and definitions may vary.

About Toyota

Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.

About the author:

Henk Bekker

Henk Bekker is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience in online writing. His best-selling cars website has been reporting car sales statistics since 2008 with classic car auction prices focusing on the most expensive automobiles sold at public auctions in the past decade. He also owns the travel websites European-Traveler.com and Lake Geneva Switzerland. Henk holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and an MSc in Finance from the University of London.