TOKYO Toyota Motor Corp said global sales hit a new record for the month of February as it bounced back from severe pandemic-induced parts shortages, adding that worldwide production also increased for a second straight month.
Japan's biggest automaker said in a statement that shortages of parts continue to be a problem. During the pandemic, it fared better than most car makers in managing supply chains, but ended up cutting monthly production targets repeatedly last year.
The global sales of the company jumped 10.3 per cent to 773,271 vehicles last month, driven by a blistering 53.2 per cent increase in domestic sales. It was a particularly weak February last year, when sales fell sharply due to a lack of semiconductors.
It said that worldwide production of Toyota-branded vehicles rose 2 per cent to 755,839, slightly ahead of its goal of 750,000. The increase came after an 8.8 per cent jump in January.
Domestic production was strong after a 30.1 per cent surge in January, climbing 11.2 per cent in February.