Toyota has retained its position as the world's best-selling automaker for the seventh consecutive year, according to the company's latest sales figures. The Japanese manufacturer sold 5,390,000 vehicles globally during the first six months of the year.
The company's global sales in the January–June period decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, as stated in a company announcement. Global production in the same period reached 5,511,000 units, which is close to last year's levels, according to Toyota.
Electrified vehicle sales hit record high
Sales of electrified vehicles—including hybrids and fully electric models—rose by 9.1% to 2,707,000 units, marking the company's highest first-half sales for this category. Sales of fully electric vehicles jumped 135% to 193,172 units compared to the same period last year.
Toyota also achieved its highest-ever first-half sales performance in both hybrid and fully electric vehicles, according to the company.
Regional performance
In North America, sales increased by 0.9% to 1,452,000 units, driven by strong demand for hybrid models. Toyota sold approximately 695,000 vehicles in China, and 612,271 vehicles in Europe during the first half of the year, according to Toyota.
In its home market of Japan, Toyota's sales rose by 4.4% to 1,095,000 units, supported by the new bZ4X electric model and the RAV4.
