Toyota, including its Lexus brand, sold only 18 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Japan last month, underscoring the slow pace of EV adoption in its home market compared to overseas.
Globally, Toyota and Lexus sold just over 17,000 BEVs in August, with nearly all delivered in markets such as Europe, China, and North America. Through the first nine months of 2025, the automaker sold 117,031 BEVs worldwide, putting it on track to surpass the 140,000 sold in all of 2024. In Japan, however, cumulative sales stood at just 469 units through August, far behind the 2,038 sold domestically in 2024.
See also: Toyota Launches e-Palette Electric Vehicle for Multi-Use Mobility Services
Japan has struggled to match global EV adoption trends, hindered by limited government support and fewer choices compared to gasoline hybrids. Even BYD, China’s largest EV maker, has faced headwinds since its January 2023 debut, selling only 5,300 vehicles in Japan through June.
According to Bloomberg, BYD recently began offering discounts of up to ¥1 million ($6,700), cutting some models’ prices by as much as 50% once subsidies are applied.
See also: Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Recall 100,000 U.S. Electric Vehicles Over Defroster Issue
Meanwhile, Toyota’s hybrid business continues to grow. Domestic hybrid sales rose nearly 10% this year to over 603,600 units, while overseas hybrid deliveries climbed 14% to more than 2.3 million vehicles through August.
EVs are expected to account for just 3.4% of new car sales in Japan this year, BloombergNEF forecasts, though growth is anticipated as rivals including Honda and BYD introduce more affordable options such as kei-class EVs.
