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Toyota EV sales surge 127% to 309,766 units through September, but China slump drags overall volumes down

By Eve

Toyota and Lexus sold 309,766 battery electric vehicles globally in the first nine months of 2026, up 127.4% year on year, driven by updated models including the bZ4X and new launches such as the C-HR+ and Urban Cruiser. Despite the EV growth, Toyota's total global sales fell for the third consecutive month in September, down 2.2% to 860,107 units, as demand for petrol and hybrid vehicles weakened in China. The Toyota bZ4X ranked as the 20th best selling EV worldwide through August with nearly 100,000 units sold.

Why it matters

The sharp EV sales increase signals Toyota's belated but accelerating electrification push, potentially expanding the addressable market for charging infrastructure as its dealer and fleet networks transition. However, the China sales decline underscores regional divergence in EV adoption rates, a key consideration for CPOs planning network rollouts and OEM partnerships in different markets.

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Original title
“Toyota’s EV sales more than doubled in a year, but gas cars are getting crushed in China”
Published
29 October 2026
Updated
30 October 2026

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