Toyota’s 5 Key Trends, Vehicles for 2025

At Toyota’s annual State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) event, CEO Andrew Kirby shared updates from the previous year, what to expect in 2025, and highlighted its key trends.

Kirby pointed out that Toyota’s total sales for 2024 were 3% below its projections of 540 000, coming in at 515 712. It hasn’t quite reached pre-pandemic levels, in 2019 it sold 536 604 vehicles, but 2023 was closest to this figure at 531 775.

Stats aside, Kirby says SA needs to attract more foreign investment and get government support. The sentiment from Toyota is that the SA government’s newly announced policy regarding incentivisation for the production of BEVs is a step in the right direction, but it is not yet enough to secure the future of the automotive production base in SA.

Toyota’s five key trends

1. Affordability: The average selling price of a passenger vehicle declined with price and price inflation considered, resulting in a decline, says Kirby, which resulted in a ‘buying down’ trend, including second hand vehicles. When looking at Toyota data specifically, he adds that customers who wanted to purchase their vehicles were not credit worthy.

2. SUV growth: There is still a continued growth in the SUV segment, with an increase in the model ranges. Kirby points out there are now 166 SUV crossover type of model ranges sold across South Africa, which makes up 53% in passenger car sales nationwide.

3. In-car technology: Consumer preferences, specifically in-car experiences, is now important in car buying decisions, says Kirby, such as the infotainment system, connectivity features, voice activation, gesture controls, and customised lighting. In contrast, customers are not so interested in 0 to 100 anymore, but more in the experience inside the car, how they connect their smartphones, he says.

4. The rise of India and China: Global Chinese production share has grown by 10.3% from 29% in 2018 to 32% in 2023, while Germany is no longer in the top five. On the South African side, locally produced vehicle sales have dropped by 6.5% from 46% in 2018 to 43% in 2023. Indian and Chinese sourced vehicles sales have increased from 18% in 2018 to 37% in 2023. Traditional source countries like Germany, Japan and Korea have declined.

5. Transition to NEVs: South Africa exports 70% of all vehicles built here to Europe and the UK but because of the changing dynamics abroad, who need to transition to EVs, this impacts SA. Panelist Greg Cress from Accenture said that without BEV incentivisation in SA, the inflection point at which mass BEV adoption becomes a reality (when BEVs get to around 5% of the passenger car parc) will only occur around 2032.

Toyota and Lexus will bring these six vehicles to SA in 2025

1. Corolla Cross Upgrade – January 2025

What’s new: All-new face; Electric parking brake; 12.3-inch Full Digital Instrument Cluster; 10.1-inch audio with wireless Apple CarPlay (XR/GR-S) and USB-C; Power back door with kick sensor (XR/GR-S); Panoramic View Camera (XR/GR-S); Toyota Safety Sense (XR/GR-S); Newly designed sequential headlamps (XR/GR-S) and New Colours: Brass Gold & Oxide Bronze.

2. Fortuner GR-S – March 2025

What’s new: Output goes from 150kW and 500Nm to 165kW to 500Nm; GR Tuned suspension with Monotube shock absorber; and Exclusive CR Styling with: 3″ GR Alloy wheels, Re-designed lower GR bumper, Alcantara GR Sports seats, GR Aluminium sports pedals.

3. GR Yaris Upgrade – March 2025

What’s new: 8AT CR Direct Automatic Transmission; 1.6T Engine (210kw/400Nm); Display Audio updates; Safety Spec updates TSS2 > TSS3; VSC with Limited Slip Differential; PKSB (Parking Support Brake); and Reverse Camera.

4. Hilux Legend 55 – July 2025

What’s new: Wide Body + Wide Tread Suspension; Legend 55 styling kit; Roller shutter; Bash plate; Rubberising; Newly designed styling bar; and Towbar.

5. Lexus LX Update and 700h – February 2025

What’s new: IMT-HEV engine (341 kW / 650 Nm); Lexus Safety Sense+3; Safe-Exit Assist; 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster; FR+RR Seat Massage (VIP Model) & FR /F Sport & Overtrail); FR& RR Wireless Charger (VIP Model); Auto Parking (IMT-HEV only); and Ultra-Wide Band security system.

6. Lexus GX – March 2025

What’s new: 3.5L V6 Engine (260kw/650Nm); 2-grade strategy: SE (7-seater) & Overtrail (Off-road)(5-seater); Overtrail Model – E-KDSS, Multi Terrain Monitor, Crawl Control, Crawl Control; SE Grade Model – Electric side-step, 22″ Wheel, FR Seat Massage; Overtrail Offroad model (Exterior gear carrier, Bash Plate, Roof-rail).

The EV discussion

Interestingly, Toyota did not touch on its electric vehicle, and mentioned via the Q&A session after being quizzed that the bZ4X (part of its Beyond Zero EV line) that was meant to launch early in 2025 is now delayed to end of 2025. This has been the case with most EVs heading to SA.

Fortunately, I was one of the first media to get behind the wheel of the bZ4X briefly in August 2024, you can catch up here:

First Drive: Toyota bZ4X