Toyota Dethrones GM as America’s Top Carmaker

Japanese automaker Toyota outsold GM in America last year, according to news reports, ending GM’s 90-year reign as the country’s top carmaker.  

It comes as all car companies have wrestled with supply chain issues and chip shortages in the wake of Covid-19. This has lead to production cuts, plant shutdowns and record low inventories.

Despite also contending with supply chain challenges, Toyota managed to record its second highest global sales year in its history, according to Akio Toyoda, the company’s president. In the US, the company reported sales of 2,332,262 vehicles for 2021. This was an increase of 10.4 percent. Of those, over half a million (583,697) were Electrified Power Vehicles (EPVs) – an increase of 73.2% over 2020.

“Despite a second consecutive year of challenges, TMNA [Toyota Motors North America] focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience, and we remain optimistic as our electrification strategy further evolves,” said Jack Hollis, senior vice president, Automotive Operations Group, TMNA, in a company press release.

According to Toyota’s January production forecast, the company is expected reach 800,000 units globally up from 740,000 in January 2021. It expects to produce 9 million cars in 2022.