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autoevolution's toyota month

Toyota rocks. And that's not some personal opinion - it’s all in the numbers. Take a good long look at them below, and the enormity of it all is instantly revealed: the Japanese are ruling the auto world.

It’s been ages since anyone seriously challenged Toyota. Sure, Volkswagen is trying to be put up a fight by throwing in the full might of its gazillion nameplates: VW, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche. And that’s before counting the commercial vehicle and truck divisions.

Yet Toyota seems to easily fend off the Germans with a significantly less pompous portfolio of brands: Toyota and Lexus. Sure, it has others, like Daihatsu or Hino, but they don’t count for much in the grand scheme of things.

How big is Toyota? The biggest. In 2020, the carmaker sold over 9.5 million cars, compared to VW’s 9.3 million, making it the emperor of the world once more.

And the king of the States, one might add. Here’s why.

In America, Toyota presently sells eight passenger car models. One of them, the Camry, was the best-seller of its segment, for the 19th consecutive year. It sells two trucks, and one of them, the Tacoma, ranked first in the small pickup segment 16 consecutive times. It also offers seven SUVs and crossovers, with the RAV4 crowned leader for the fourth consecutive year.

And, the cherry on the cake, over 2.1 million of last year’s Toyota vehicles were sold in the U.S., making the carmaker the best-selling retail brand nine years in a row.

For some time now, autoevolution has been running month-long special coverages on various topics. Somehow, Toyota has escaped the scrutiny of our army of writers. Not anymore, as in March we’re going after the Japanese, pens and keyboards blazing, in what shall become known as Toyota Month.

Editor's note: This special feature by autoevolution was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.
Meet the Five Most Influential Vehicles Toyota Has Ever Built
Meet the Five Most Influential Vehicles Toyota Has Ever Built

26 Mar 2021, 16:09 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Toyota has produced some outstanding vehicles throughout the years, becoming a leader of the industry; let's take a look at five of its most influential models

 
Here’s a Toyota Running Away From the Driver When Exiting the Parking Lot
Here’s a Toyota Running Away From the Driver When Exiting the Parking Lot

26 Mar 2021, 15:00 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / Toyotas are known to be reliable, quality, and affordable cars; every once in a while, one will attempt to break free from its rightful owner

 
2021 Lexus LC500 Convertible Is Properly Enjoyed With Top Down in Spirited POV
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26 Mar 2021, 14:29 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / This time around, the good folks from AutoTopNL have taken a break from the Autobahn trials to have a go at the luxurious Japanese grand tourer on back roads

 
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Supercharged 2012 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner Is a Blue-Collar Driver’s Truck
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25 Mar 2021, 16:51 UTC · By: Sergiu Tudose / This Barcelona Red Toyota Tacoma X-Runner is powered by a 300-hp supercharged 4.0-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission

 
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A Look at the Iconic 70 Series Land Cruiser, the Most Reliable Toyota Ever Built
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25 Mar 2021, 12:39 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Toyotas are known for being reliable vehicles, but the 70 Series Land Cruiser is arguably the most reliable of them all, one of the best off-roaders ever built

 
Possible Reveal of 2022 Toyota GR 86 Slated by Gazoo Racing for April 5 in Japan
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25 Mar 2021, 12:20 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / There's going to be a jointly held event at home in Japan where the companies will say more, but the Gazoo Racing implication makes everything pretty clear

 
2021 Ford F-150 Goes Head-to-Head With 2021 Toyota Tundra, Truck Fans Triumph
2021 Ford F-150 Goes Head-to-Head With 2021 Toyota Tundra, Truck Fans Triumph

25 Mar 2021, 11:07 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / It's an official comparison coming from the “FoMoCo” social media YT account, so don't imagine the Japanese truck has a chance to come on top this time

 
1972 Toyota FJ40 Gets Trail-Pitted Against 2010 FJ Cruiser, Rock Crawling Wins
1972 Toyota FJ40 Gets Trail-Pitted Against 2010 FJ Cruiser, Rock Crawling Wins

24 Mar 2021, 13:29 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / One is a 49-year-old legend, the other is an icon in the making, both are great off-roading fun and will make the day of any rock-crawling Toyota aficionado

 
The Toyota UUV Is What Happened When a Sienna Van and a Tacoma Made a Child
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24 Mar 2021, 12:10 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / The Toyota Ultimate Utility Vehicle is a 2015 one-off concept designed to be both spacious and tough, as well as help learn how to build better cars

 
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24 Mar 2021, 09:29 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Best of all, the listing on Bring a Trailer is a no-reserve auction; on the other hand, one needs to decide quickly if this is the right Supra for a collection

 
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24 Mar 2021, 08:56 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Of course, after seeing the GR Yaris in just about every situation, a no speed limit trial was bound to happen sooner or later; AutoTopNL quickly obliges

 
Transformational Lexus Concept Car Set for Global Unveiling on March 30
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Custom 1983 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 Trained in Venezuela, Now Ready for America
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23 Mar 2021, 13:55 UTC · By: Aurel Niculescu / Don't worry about the hustle of importing the modified truck because the Bring a Trailer listing mentions the FJ45 already has a clean U.S. title

 
Blast From the Past: 41 People Crammed Into a Toyota RAV4 for a World Record
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23 Mar 2021, 12:48 UTC · By: Elena Gorgan / A local Toyota dealership put the stunt together, probably for extra publicity, and was able to achieve the impossible: fitting 41 people in a compact SUV

 
The Epic 2ZZ-GE: Toyota’s Yamaha-Developed Four-Cylinder Supercharged by Lotus
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New Toyota 86 Launch Reportedly Delayed to 2022, CEO Doesn't Want a Subaru Copy
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23 Mar 2021, 06:23 UTC · By: Mihnea Radu / The old 86 and BRZ were very similar, but Toyota now wants something with its own character and will do shorter gearing, maybe even engine tuning

 
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23 Mar 2021, 03:22 UTC · By: Mihnea Radu / The LF-1 concept was shown in 2018 and the production version got pushed back again and again; it is happening in 2023, according to this report