Suzuki Motor Corporation, Daihatsu Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation said today that they have decided to aim for the release of their mini-commercial van electric vehicles (BEVs) respectively in fiscal 2025.*
“This mini-commercial van BEV, jointly developed by the three companies, combines Suzuki and Daihatsu’s expertise in creating small-size cars with Toyota’s electrification technology and is equipped with a BEV system suitable for mini-commercial vehicles. Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation also participated in the planning to achieve a vehicle with optimal specifications for efficient last-mile logistics,” the companies said in a joint release. Continue reading









Toyota Motor Leads Global 2024 CY Sales at 10.8M
Toyota Motor Corporation (7203.T) today posted its sales, production, and export results for December 2024 , and significantly the total from January to December 2024, including those for subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. and Hino Motors. (click here for data by market and type.)With 10.8 million sold – down ~3.7% because of regulatory compliance issues in Japan and the ongoing EV price war in China – TMC easily out sold the Volkswagen group, which reported a 2.3% drop in global sales for 2024 at ~9 million. This makes TMC the undisputed global sales leader for the fifth straight year.
Lexus announced today its 2024 global sales were a record high at 851,214 units (a 103.3% increase compared to the previous year). This growth was attributed to strong demand, particularly in North America and Europe, along with the recovery of stable parts supply contributing to increased global sales. The new LBX and LM models have been well received, according to Lexus, with strong sales of the core RX and NX models. Battery EV (BEV) models, such as the “RZ” and “UX300e,” also achieved strong sales with a year-over-year growth of 119%, contributing to the electrified vehicle* ratio reaching a record-high 52% of total Lexus sales. Continue reading →