The marketing and sales officer of Toyota South Africa Motors (Tsam), Leon Theron, says that they are not afraid of their competitors when they are happy to wrap up 2025 as the company that sold the most new cars in South Africa.
Tsam sold 148,124 cars which made it gain 24.8% of the local market and was the leader for 46 years in a row.
1,113 of these cars belonged to Lexus which made them very happy and 3,178 were Hino trucks.
Hilux sold 36,525, Corolla Cross 22,191, Starlet Cross 10,439, Urban Cruiser 10,277, Vitz 9,436, Fortuner 9,049 and others.
“I want to make it clear that we are not afraid of our competitors,” said Theron.
He was speaking at Tsam’s annual State of the Motor Industry Address in Sandton on Thursday where he revealed their plans for the year.
He said last year they sold the second largest number of cars since 2007. He stated that this year they want to sell 153,000.
He revealed that they are working hard to bring the cars of his brother Century as well as to bring back Daihatsu.
In 2027 he said they will bring GR GT in a small number of around 14. It has a 4.0l Twin Turbo V8 engine with an electric power of 478kW and a torque of 850Nm.
It is rear wheel drive and has an 8 speed automatic gearbox. The speed is limited to 320km/h.
This year he revealed the upcoming cars, they can touch the highly anticipated Hilux. He said, however, that they are determined to protect the category they compete in and will do everything.
Among those to be introduced is the new RAV4 which will come with three engines, including a plug in hybrid. There will also be the first ever GR-Sport.
Another upcoming SUV is the Land Cruiser FJ, which he said will cost more than the top of the family Hilux.
They will also introduce the first Toyota car in the country to travel on battery electricity, which they say can travel up to 480km when fully charged.
It will also sell the updated Corolla Cross GR-S, the Land Cruiser 1M-HEV which they say is more fuel efficient and the Lexus RZ which runs on battery power. The RZ is available in three variants with a power of 280kW and an F-Sport with a power of 300kW. It has an 80.5kWh battery that they say gives you a range of 500km.
It will come with the RZ 600e with a power of 315kW.
Speed car enthusiasts will be treated to an upgraded GR Corolla with an automatic gearbox. It has a power of 210kW and a torque of 400Nm.