They want to sell how many cars? Toyota plans to increase sales in 2022 with Corolla Cross SUV, updated LandCruiser 70 Series, and a lot of hybrids

Toyota sold a jaw-dropping 223,642 vehicles in Australia in 2021. That’s enough for a healthy 21.3 per cent slice of the entire Australian new-car market.

It’s more than double the haul of second-placed Mazda (101,119) and it exceeds the combined total of Mazda and third-placed Hyundai (72,872).

Toyota’s 2021 result was the third-highest it has recorded since it set up shop in Australia in the late 1950s.

Read More About Toyota Corolla Cross

How long is the wait time for a 2022 Toyota RAV4? Update on lead times for Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander rival 2021 new-car sales results: Toyota HiLux edges Ford Ranger as Australia's best-selling car, with RAV4 and Corolla not far behind 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid detailed: Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona small SUV rival gains new, more powerful hybrid powertrain

The only other years it exceeded this amount were in 2007 (236,647) and 2008 (238,983).

Despite this dominant position, Toyota executives insist the company will extend this lead further in 2022, with a target for even more sales.

Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said the 2022 results will depend on a number of factors relating to COVID-19 and parts shortages, but he was bullish about the expected sales growth.

“Whilst I won’t go into exact numbers today because it would be, at best, a forecast, we are confident that we will extend beyond the 223,000 we did this year and we base that on the production schedules and market forecasts that we think will still be pretty healthy next year, and we also base it on the confidence in the orders we carry into the market,” he said.

The HiLux was once again the best-selling vehicle in Australia last year. (Photo credit: Glen Sullivan)

“The economy is still very strong in Australia. I don’t see any reason that would fall over in the foreseeable 12 months. It might be challenged in terms of supply but we will manage that as we go through.”

The strong 2021 result came despite significant impacts to production and delivery of vehicles caused by COVID-related factory closures and the dreaded global semi-conductor shortage.

Toyota’s current model range continues to kick goals, with Brand T having the best-selling passenger car (Corolla), SUV (RAV4) and light-commercial vehicle (HiLux) in 2021. The HiLux topped the overall best-seller charts too.

Sales for LandCruiser-branded models (Prado, LandCruiser 70 and 300 Series) came close to hitting 50,000 sales last year, while the Camry easily topped its segment.

Sales across all LandCruise models, including the 300 Series, hit close to 50,000 units in 2021.

Last year proved to be a bumper year for hybrid sales too. Toyota recorded more than 65,000 hybrid registrations in 2021, a record for the brand. That figure represents close to 30 per cent of Toyota’s total sales.

With 2022 expected to be another big year of model launches for Toyota, Mr Hanley has reason to be optimistic.

The most significant launch will be the Corolla Cross in the second half of 2022. Slotting in above the Yaris Cross, below the RAV4 and alongside the C-HR, the Corolla Cross is certain to be a sales hit.

It will compete with the big guns in the small SUV segment including the MG ZS, Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-30, Subaru XV, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.

The Corolla topped the passenger car sales charts in 2021.

If Toyota can secure enough stock of the Corolla Cross – the company still hasn’t confirmed where it will be built – it could eventually become one of the top-selling small SUVs in Australia.

Toyota has also confirmed an update for the strong-selling LandCruiser 70 Series, and the second-generation 86 sports car also arrives in the second half.

Another significant launch, albeit with lower volumes, will be Toyota’s first battery electric vehicle, the bZ4X.

The facelifted RAV4 lands early in the year and despite ongoing supply issues, it should continue to sell strongly in 2022.

Similarly, the Corolla and HiLux should continue to enjoy healthy sales this year.

All of this points to another bumper year for Toyota in 2022.