Toyota says you might have the 40-millionth Corolla ever built

Sat, 07 Sep 2013

The guy who bought the 50-millionth Toyota in the US got a free Camry and RAV4, but whoever in the world bought the 40-millionth Corolla in August gets a hearty "thank you" from the Japanese automaker. On sale since 1966, the Corolla is the best-selling nameplate in the world by a goodly margin (more than the Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Model T combined). So while you'd think that vehicle number 40 million would be sitting in a museum somewhere, Toyota can't even say in which country this milestone Corolla was sold, let alone to which customer.

One reason that Toyota is unsure where this Corolla was sold is the fact that the Corolla name itself is more than just the compact sedan sold in the US. On our shores alone, sales of the Matrix are lumped in with the Corolla, but around the world, numerous vehicles wear the Corolla name or share its platform. Scroll down for Toyota's press release, and it has also put together a website celebrating 47 years and 40 million sales for the Corolla... and counting.

Toyota Thanks Customers for Making The Corolla the Best-Selling Nameplate Ever
Corolla Is World Leader in Sales with 40 Million Sold

Torrance, Calif., Sept. 5, 2013 - If you bought a Toyota Corolla last month, your new car just might be the 40 millionth Corolla ever sold. It's not about the number, but the number sums it up: Happy customers have made Corolla the best-selling automotive nameplate in history.

"American's love affair with the Corolla began in 1968 and the passion is still burning," said Jack Hollis, Toyota vice president of Marketing. "Always the poster-child for Toyota's legendary quality, the Corolla is all-new for 2014 with expressive styling, a premium interior, and terrific driving dynamics. It's built for the way we live today and the places we go. From urban chic to family road trip, at 40 million we're just getting started!"

Toyota started annual production of the Corolla in November 1966 with approximately 240,000 vehicles produced at its new Takaoka Japan factory and exports began immediately. Today, 11 generations later, over 1.1 million Corollas are produced each year. Every hour 125 new Corollas drive out of factories in America (Blue Springs, Miss.), Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and Venezuela combined. With customers in more than 150 countries, the Corolla has earned its title as "The World's Car."

Legacy of Leading Safety Features
The Corolla was originally designed to meet the changing needs of Japanese commuters in the mid-1960s. When the first Corolla rolled off the line, many automakers offered basic safety features as optional. The Corolla was among the first car lines to include rear back-up lights as a standard feature.

And Toyota's history of evolving the Corolla to meet customers' needs remains alive today. The base L Model of the new Corolla comes standard with LED headlights, Bluetooth, eight airbags and Toyota's Star Safety System™. For those families who are looking for better fuel efficiency, Toyota recently announced upcoming production of a Corolla hybrid. Toyota's commitment to adding new standard features to the affordably-priced Corolla over time has helped ensure that families around the world continue to choose it more than any other nameplate.

Hollis continued, "As we celebrate this 40 millionth milestone, we are grateful to all those who have owned and loved their Corollas for the past 47 years and proud o fthe generations of Corolla Chief Engineers for their enduring vision."

By Jeffrey N. Ross