Toyota's global output falls for 10th consecutive month

Toyota's output continued to fall, even as global sales rose for a second straight month on strong demand in the US and China.

In November, the world's largest automaker produced 869,230 vehicles globally, down 6.2% year-on-year, a larger decline than the 0.8% decline in October.

In the US, Toyota's output fell 11.8%, indicating a slow recovery even though production of the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX models resumed in late October after a four-month halt to address airbag issues.

Previously, the company recalled 145,000 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus TX vehicles in the US because the driver's side curtain airbag may not deploy as intended in some collisions if the driver's window is rolled down.

In China, Toyota's output fell 1.6%, but that was still better than the previous month's 9% drop, thanks to strong sales of the Granvia and Sienna minivans as well as the bZ3 electric sedan jointly developed with BYD.

As Chinese brands like BYD are rising strongly, Toyota has decided to build its first factory in Shanghai and will start producing electric cars for the Lexus brand from 2027, according to Nikkei.

In Japan, which accounts for about 33% of Toyota's global output, production fell 9.3% in November, partly due to a two-day production halt at the Fujimatsu and Yoshiwara plants.

Toyota recorded a second consecutive monthly increase in worldwide sales, up 1.7% to 920,569 vehicles, setting a new record for November.

In the January-November period this year, Toyota's global production was 5.2% lower than the same period in 2023, at about 8.75 million vehicles, while global sales fell 1.2%.

Production and sales figures include Toyota's luxury Lexus line but exclude other group brands such as Hino and Daihatsu.