Bob Carter on 2019 Sales

(Images: Toyota)

Although there are a few weeks left to 2019 and overall vehicle sales, Bob Carter, executive vice president, Sales, Toyota North America, said today, “A fantastic year is coming together.”

According to Carter, a year ago he had thought that the year would be 16.7-million units overall. But as the months rolled on, they had to make upward adjustments, and he believes that the year will end at approximately 17 million.

The only real question with the remaining weeks, he said, was whether there will be rounding up or down. Still, a solid performance.

Speaking to the point of Toyota, he said that it is more than likely that Camry will be the best-selling car. Through November, they’ve sold 310,669 Camrys. If it is number-one in 2019, this will be 18 years running.

He also said that he anticipates sales of some 425,000 RAV4s—again, through November they’ve sold 406,789—which makes it the number-one vehicle that’s not a pickup truck.

“We can’t build them fast enough,” Carter said.

The company isn’t slowing down in terms of product announcements, as he said that they’ll be making 31 over the next 36 months, some new, some derivatives, some refreshed.

And what is a somewhat intriguing comment about what’s going to be happening going forward, Carter said that at CES and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—of which Toyota is a sponsor—will show how Toyota is transforming itself from an auto company to a mobility company, show the long-term vision that they are pursuing.