Toyota Gets Best-Selling Carmaker Title for Fourth Consecutive Year Amid Quality Control Setbacks
Despite facing recent challenges in quality control at three of its group companies, Toyota has finalized the title of the world’s best-selling carmaker for the fourth consecutive year. Global sales for Toyota, including Daihatsu and Hino Motors, reached a record 11.2 million vehicles in 2023, marking a 7.2% increase.
Chairman Akio Toyoda issued a formal apology for the quality control issues that involved falsified emissions data and improper certification procedures at subsidiaries. Toyoda emphasized the company’s commitment to honesty and integrity moving forward.
While the scandals have cast a shadow, Toyota’s core car sales remained robust, achieving a record-breaking 10.3 million vehicles in 2023. Hybrid cars constituted a significant portion of these sales, although battery-electric vehicles remained a smaller segment.
However, the recent production and shipment suspensions triggered by quality control concerns pose challenges to Toyota’s sales momentum. Daihatsu temporarily stopped shipments of all its cars due to safety concerns with 64 models, and Toyota suspended shipments of specific models due to irregularities in engine testing.
The incidents raise concerns about potential damage to Toyota’s long-standing reputation for quality and safety, which has been a key factor in its sustained success. Addressing these issues effectively will be crucial for Toyota to retain its position as the world’s leading automaker.
