When it came to choosing the best manufacturer for our 2024 Autocar Awards, there were plenty of reasons why Toyota was the clear winner.
Despite facing a global car market that is more challenging and fiercely competitive than ever, Toyota is not only surviving, it is thriving. In 2023, Toyota sold more than 10 million cars globally for the first time and posted an operating profit of 5.35 trillion yen (£26 billion) in May. So what’s the secret to its success?
First of all, there is Toyota’s reputation for producing cars that demonstrate exceptional quality, dependability and dependability: a long-held, hard-won reputation – built over many decades – that still keeps the brand in good standing today.
Secondly, there is the sheer breadth and depth of Toyota’s model line-up, which is nothing short of astonishing. From affordable city-friendly superminis and family-friendly hatchbacks to ultra-efficient hybrids and all-electric SUVs, via rugged off-roaders to low-slung, heart-pumping cars, Toyota has a comprehensive line-up that offers the perfect choice of car for every type of customer in every corner of the market.
Then there’s Toyota’s wide choice of powertrain options. As the world moves towards electric power, Toyota’s proven emissions-reducing hybrid technology – available on a wide range of cars across the brand’s range – makes it even easier for drivers to drive more efficiently and reduce their impact. .
Toyota is also now offering more and more plug-in hybrids and its first fully electric model: the Toyota bZ4X. Toyota is also one of the few brands that is looking to the future with significant investments in alternative fuels, such as hydrogen.
Finally, Toyota has never lost its belief in its passion for making cars for people who love to drive. Toyota’s dedication to using the learnings from World Rally, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and touring cars to create cars that are, first and foremost, fun to drive has produced a stunning trio of pulse-pounding performance halo road cars – namely the rally-bred Toyota GR Yaris, the Toyota GR86 and the Toyota GR Supra.
It gives Toyota a real point of difference when many mainstream manufacturers are scaling back their performance offerings, while also allowing Toyota to inject a dose of everyday excitement into almost every car in its line-up via the GR Sport trim.
Since Toyota is active in so many areas – and does so well in so many areas – it is no wonder that the brand is becoming increasingly stronger. That’s why we named Toyota the Best Manufacturer of 2024 by Autocar.