In February, Toyota Motor experienced a 7% drop in global sales compared to the same period last year. This decline was primarily attributed to a significant decrease in sales in China, the largest auto market globally, where sales plummeted by 36%. The decline in China was influenced by several factors, including the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday and intense competition in the market, leading to a price war.
While the Lunar New Year holiday fell in February this year compared to January last year, contributing to the decline in sales, Toyota also faced challenges from fierce competition in China’s auto market. However, for January and February combined, the sales decline in China was less severe at 0.7%.
Despite the challenges in China, Toyota saw a 16% surge in U.S. sales and a 14% increase in European sales for February. However, domestic sales in Japan plummeted by a third due to production stoppages at Daihatsu, a small car unit of Toyota, which also faced reputational damage from a safety test scandal reported almost a year ago.
UMW Toyota Motor experienced continued growth in August 2023, reporting a total monthly sales figure of 10,275 units for both Toyota and Lexus models. This includes 10,033 units sold under the Toyota brand and 242 units under the Lexus brand. This performance marks a notable increase from the total monthly sales of 8,349 units recorded in July 2023.
Furthermore, when considering the cumulative sales for the year up to August 2023, the total now stands at 67,283 units, in contrast to 61,639 units for the same period in the previous year. This demonstrates a substantial year-on-year growth of 9.2% in year-to-date sales for the first eight months of 2023. Additionally, the monthly sales achieved in August 2023 exhibited a 13% increase compared to the same month in the previous year.
With monthly sales of 8,349 units (Toyota + Lexus) — 8,200 units for Toyota and 149 units for Lexus—UMW Toyota Motor concluded July 2023 on a high note. As a result, the total year-to-date sales as of July 2023 were 57,008 units as opposed to 52,548 units for the same period the previous year, an increase of 8.5%. The monthly sales figures for July 2023 were likewise up 25.8% from July 2022.
UMW Toyota Motor maintained its market dominance in June, earning remarkable sales figures of 8,559 units for Toyota and 110 units for Lexus. Toyota and Lexus combined total sales for June 2023 reached 8,669 units, exceeding the 8,004 units reported in May 2023.
Year-to-date sales for June 2023 have shown excellent growth, with a total of 48,659 units sold. This result indicates a strong 6.0% increase over the 45,911 units sold year to date in June 2022.
Another major highlight for the month of June was the unveiling of the highly anticipated all-new Toyota Innova Zenix, featuring both Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models. This introduction was a big step forward in the company’s persistent commitment to carbon-neutrality and sustainability.
For all the difficulties in getting parts, especially microprocessors, that the auto industry faced in 2022, it was certainly a great year with the Total Industry Volume (TIV) expected to be over 700,000 units when the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announces the full year sales results soon.
While the two Malaysian carmakers continued to dominate the market, the bestselling non-Malaysian brand was Toyota, with 100,042 vehicles delivered during the year. While some may be confused as we reported on Honda being the No.1 brand, the difference is that Honda was No.1 in passenger vehicle sales alone – excluding pick-up trucks and commercial vehicles which it does not sell.
UMW Toyota Motor has been having a good year so far, with sales headed upwards each month. And after 6 months, the cumulative volume for Toyota and Lexus vehicles delivered nationwide has reached 45,911 units. That’s an impressive 35% increase over the 34,111 units delivered during the same period in 2021.
Strong sales were evident almost every month, in spite of the supply issues that affect many car companies. June alone contributed 8,939 units (of which 69 units were of the Lexus brand), which was almost 1,500 units more than the May volume.
With the end of the sales tax exemption, UMWT is expecting some negative impact although it is not likely to last long. This is mitigated with some early signs of recovery on the global shortage of semiconductors and microchips in the second half of this year. This will enable production to ramp up and will allow the company to introduce further new models.
“Shifting gears into the second half of 2022, UMW Toyota Motor is focused on going the ‘ExtraMile’ to provide Toyota owners with the best ownership and after-sales experience by reimagining what ownership is about. Looking ahead, shifting consumer behaviour will likely place value on advanced automotive technologies and comprehensive security features supported by a host of value-added aftersales services,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
“At UMW Toyota Motor, we offer owners not only the best technological advancement at their fingertips for a smoother and safer drive, we go the ExtraMile to enhance their ownership journey. Through financial and insurance packages, top-notch servicing and Toyota 24/7 roadside assist, we are confident in delivering an unforgettable journey from the starting line by taking great care of our customers from the moment they enter our doors,” he explained.
Toyota Veloz coming soon (Thai version shown).
New Veloz coming soon
The company is looking forward to launching the all-new Toyota Veloz which is a premium crossover model. The 7-seater was launched in Indonesia last November and has been well received. Depending on the market, the Veloz is considered as a new model line or as a successor to the Avanza. In Malaysia, UMWT says it will replace the Avanza and comes with the highest specification and advanced features.
The model will have a 1.5-litre DVVT engine and have an estimated price of RM95,000 (without insurance). Bookings are now accepted prior to the launch and from what we hear, there’s a lot of interest, especially with its promise of good fuel efficiency, safety and extensive list of features.
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) continues to maintain its position in the non-national category with 7,442 units of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in May. Added to the cumulative volume for the first 4 months, this brings the company’s total sales in 2022 to 36,972 units at the end of May.
With almost 37,000 units sold, the cumulative volume for the first 5 months of 2022 is 9% higher than for the same period in 2021 which was 34,026 units. This increase is despite the forecast that vehicle sales in Malaysia will be slow for the rest of the year due to shortage of completed vehicles.
While there was no issue of shortage of semiconductors last year to prevent carmakers from completing vehicles, this is the situation in 2022 is making it difficult to achieve higher outputs to meet demand.
The strong demand up till now has also been driven by the expectation that sales tax (or GST) will be resumed after the end of June 2022 (although there are now rumours that it could be extended again). This has persuaded many car-buyers to make their purchase before the end of June in order to enjoy the savings.
“As we rev up for the second half of this year, we at UMW Toyota are truly appreciative and emboldened by the support we have received from our customers. It has always been our policy to put our customers first and we are always ready to extend our assistance to the many Toyota fans as we journey out of these uncertain times. We are looking forward to continued confidence in our products and servicing capabilities, backed by our advanced automotive technology and comforted by the security features of all our products. Here’s to a more positive outlook forging ahead,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
Continuing with the monthly promotions, UMWT has offers worth RM4,000 for those who want to become owners of the Yaris or Vios. There are also money-saving offers for other models in the form of cash rebates.
UMW Toyota has new models in the pipeline for the second half of the year so they are expecting a further increase in numbers.
The company is also looking forward to running the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival on June 25/26 at the Sepang International Circuit. While the highlight of the event is the Vios Challenge one-make race, there are also other activities for all the family. Entry is free during the two days but the public should observe social distancing and wear facemasks to protect themselves as well as others around them. Click here to read more about the upcoming Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival.
Last year, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) started the year with the aim of regaining the top position in the non-national segment and it successfully achieved that objective. The momentum has continued into 2022 as the company held the top position in the first quarter of the year. Entering the second quarter, UMWT expects to push further ahead and has started off with deliveries of 6,946 vehicles (of which 78 units were from the Lexus brand).
Cumulative sales after the first 4 months of the year have reached 29,393 units (Toyota + Lexus), an increase of 11% compared to the volume over the same period in 2021.
With a more optimistic mood brought on by the lifting of many restrictions of the pandemic period, as well as the onset of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities, many people were inclined to consider a new vehicle. In conjunction with the festive period, UMWT had its ‘Bersama Lebih Makna’ Raya promotion which offers benefits worth RM4,000 to those buying a new Vios or Yaris.
Both models, assembled locally as the fairly new second assembly plant in Selangor, have seen growing popularity as they are good value for money. The image of the Vios has also become sportier with the intensive promotion of the Vios Challenge one-make series over the past few years. Each round has been broadcast live, bringing the races right to homes around Malaysia and even outside the country.
Vios Challenge one-make series, in its fifth season this year, has added a sporty image to the popular sedan.
“It is heartening to note that we have transitioned well into the endemic phase, and we at UMW Toyota Motor are always encouraged by the support from our customers, especially during this busy Ramadan and Raya period. Even with the surprise announcement of Aidilfitri falling a day earlier than expected, all our service centres were fully prepared to assist our customers in their ‘balik kampung’ journey. We continue to be committed to leaving no one behind and offer value-for-money innovations, coupled with advanced technology and security features in all of our products,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
‘Bersama Lebih Makna’ Raya
With Ramadan and Syawal being the prominent events of this month, UMWT presented a special film entitled ‘Kota Raya’ on various several social media platforms. Inspired by family ties and the importance of being together, the film focuses on the deep-rooted tradition of celebrating together, something which was greatly missed over the past two years due to travel restrictions.
Besides the film, UMWT also reached out to those less fortunate in a collaboration with Harian Metro through their ‘Titipan Kasih’ programme. With the aim of providing assistance to the underprivileged, this outreach by the company saw 50 children receive ‘baju raya’ worth RM150. Additionally, a ‘Kotak Rezeki’ consisting of groceries valued at RM100 was presented to 168 families. 50 children also received RM60 each as ‘duit raya’.
Volunteers from UMWT also carried out other outreach activities to assist the less fortunate during this recovery period and at the same time, establishing a relationship with the surrounding community.
“The focus of this activity was for us to share the festive celebration with the less fortunate, as it is more meaningful if we celebrate it together. Furthering our ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’ Raya, we wanted to reach out to all those underprivileged, especially the orphans, and single-parent families. We also wanted to inspire and instill a strong spirit of volunteerism, along with community service among our employees as a way to bring our brand closer to the community,” Mr. Ravindran said.
Toyota showrooms nationwide will also have ‘Toyota Raya Open House Weekender’ events on May 21/22. This event aims to reconnect with Toyota customers, both past, present and future, while celebrating Hari Raya together. At the events, there will also be special deals and promotions and those who take test-drives will receive gifts (while stocks last) in appreciation of their interest.
Visit www.toyota.com.my to know more about Toyota products and services and the locations of showrooms.
UMW Toyota Motor continues to post strong sales with the month of February having seen deliveries of 6,366 Toyota vehicles and 66 Lexus vehicles for a total of 6,432 units. As in January, the number was higher than for the same month in 2021, with a jump of 27% in total sales volume.
The company is optimistic about its 2022 performance being able to keep it in the top position of the non-national sector. It has already launched an updated Camry model which has a new engine and is counting on its hybrid electric vehicle technology in the Corolla Cross Hybrid to gain greater popularity among Malaysians.
Latest Camry 2.5V with the new Dynamic Force engine (above) and the hybrid powertrain in the Corolla Cross Hybrid (below).
For the month of March, there’s a special promotion for the Yaris and Vios models (E & G variants) which has value-added benefits worth RM4,000. Additionally, with all models (except the Hilux), there are still savings on sales tax which is expected until June 30, 2022. As both the Yaris and Vios are assembled locally, the exemption is 100% and the savings amount to more than RM2,000.
Besides new models planned for launch in later months, the company also continues to develop and grow its sales and aftersales network. Recently, it opened a new 2S outlet with Body & Paint services in Skudai, Johor to serve the growing number of customers in the southern state. The outlet is operated in partnership with Super Evergreen (Nusajaya) Sdn Bhd and joins UMW Toyota Motor’s extensive network of authorised facilities around the country.
A new Toyota dealership has opened in Johor to provide Body & Paint aftersales services, including accident repairs and painting.
“We truly appreciate the support our customers have given towards the Toyota brand and are optimistic about the continuous growth of the Malaysian automotive sector. As we continue to innovate and bring mobility products offering the absolute best technology and safety that enhances lifestyles, we trust that Malaysians will continue to choose Toyota as their preferred road companion,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
While busy with sales, UMW Toyota Motor also carried out other activities last month. An initiative to give back to the community saw the contribution of RM140,000 to the National Cancer Society Malaysia which will help with the purchase of a new Digital Doppler Ultrasound Machine to provide better treatment to cancer patients.
The company also picked winners of the 15th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest who will travel to Japan and represent Malaysia in the World Contest. The contest, which has been running since 2004, draws entrants from many countries and invites them to show their idea of the future of mobility by drawing their dream car.
The Vios Challenge one-make series will have its fifth season with a total of 6 races during the year.
There’s also a full motorsports program planned for this year, starting with the first round of the Vios Challenge/TGR Festival on March 18 at the Sepang International Circuit. This will be the fifth season of the popular one-make series and will consist of a total of 6 races. Additionally, there will also be the online equivalent – the GR Velocity E-sports championship – also in its fifth season. It is billed as one of the most lucrative local online racing series in the country, attracting close to 1,000 participants with more than 1 million online spectators.
Toyota and Lexus sales in Malaysia mirrored the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of November, which is expected to be less than the October TIV. However, demand for the two brands distributed by UMW Toyota Motor remains strong and the difference was only 14 units compared to the total volume for October when the total number sold nationwide was 8,500 units.
The total sales volume for November is 8486 units consisted of 6,620 passenger cars and 1,866 commercial vehicles (including pick-ups). For the period from January to November 2021, total sales for the Toyota and Lexus brands have reached 63,105 units, 26% higher than the same period in 2020 when a total of 50,074 units had been sold.
Toyota Vios and Hilux bestsellers
Among the passenger car models, the Vios continued to be the bestselling Toyota model, accounting for 33% of sales, while the Hilux continued to be the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia, a position it has held since 2005.
Toyota’s bestselling models in Malaysia – the Vios and Hilux.
“The continued growth of the market is a sign that we are steadily progressing towards recovery. The New Normal means that some things have to be done differently and we have to be conscious of SOPs, and at Toyota, we have adapted our processes accordingly. Customers can visit our showrooms or send their vehicles to authorized service centres with peace of mind that they are protected health-wise,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.
“During the final month of the year, we will have great deals and with our ‘Now Is The Time’ promotion, there are savings of up to RM5,500 on selected models. Additionally, the government’s exemption of sales tax is ongoing which means additional savings,” he said.
Countdown to hybrid launch
Preparations are being finalized for the launch of the first locally-assembled Toyota hybrid electric vehicle in the near future. This will be the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is now undergoing pre-production activities at ASSB, UMW Toyota Motor’s assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor.
“Since we opened for bookings for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid, response has been good and we are happy to see that many Malaysians are keen to switch to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology. Toyota has been producing hybrid electric vehicles since the late 1990s and has constantly improved and advanced the technology so Malaysians will benefit from this long experience,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.
The ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor is now assembling the first Toyota hybrid model in Malaysia, alongside the Vios and Yaris.
“We are aware that many customers are eager to receive their Corolla Cross Hybrid and we ask for your patience. There are many quality processes which ASSB must complete to ensure that the cars delivered are of the highest standard in every respect. And I would also add that once the car is delivered, the new owners will also be assured of an ownership experience of the highest standard,” Mr. Takeyama added.
The new Corolla Cross Hybrid has an estimated price starting from RM137,000 (without insurance) and comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage factory warranty. Additionally, for peace of mind, there is a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty covering the hybrid battery pack, inverter and Power Management Control Unit. Customers can also extend their warranty for a further 2 years to make it a total of 10 years, the first such warranty in the local industry.
