Corolla (Toyota)

On May 8, Toyota presented its 2025 Corolla Cross model in Argentina.

The new SUV has two hybrid versions with eCVT automatic transmission, one with 1.8 SEG and another with 1.8 XEI. It is also available in the 2.0-liter ICE version and 10-speed  Direct Shift CVT transmission, offering up to 171 hp and 203 Nm of torque.

With respect to safety, starting with the XEI version the vehicle will have blind spot alert, rear traffic alert and brake assist system, in addition to the Toyota Safety Sense active safety package, which all versions have.

This vehicle is the first one in Argentina using Toyota’s global identity “Beyond Zero” to achieve carbon neutrality.

This model is already available in Toyota’s website for purchase.

(Toyota Argentina press release on May 8, 2024)

On April 29, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled the final version of the new regulation to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard on all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. within 5 years.

Although about 90% of new vehicles currently have AEB as standard under a voluntary agreement with automakers, at present there are no performance requirements, so system effectiveness remains variable.

The new regulations set standards for vehicles to automatically stop and avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians, even at night, which will require additional engineering to bolster software and possibly add hardware such as radar.

NHTSA estimates the cost at USD 354 million per year in 2020 dollars, or USD 82 per vehicle, but says it will save 362 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries per year.

The new rule requires all passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less to have forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection braking.

The standards require vehicles to stop and avoid hitting a vehicle in front of them at speeds up to 62 miles per hour, and must apply the brakes automatically at up to 90 mph if a collision with vehicle ahead is imminent.

The systems also have to spot pedestrians during the day and night, and must stop and avoid a pedestrian at 31 mph to 40 mph depending on the pedestrian's location and movement.

NHTSA will conduct random tests to determine whether OEMs are meeting the standards.

The agency said it is not requiring what type of sensors each automaker must have to meet the requirements, but in testing of 17 vehicles, only one — a 2023 Toyota Corolla equipped with cameras and radar — met the standards.

(Detroit News article on April 30, 2024)

Note: Some figures were updated on May 7.

U.S. new vehicle sales of 1,327,976 units for the month of April represented a decrease of 8.1% from March and a decrease of 2.4% from one year ago in April 2023.

There were 25 selling days in April 2024, one less than the 26 days in April 2023.

April’s passenger car sales decreased 10.7% to 264,482 units, resulting in a 19.9% market share, while SUV and truck sales decreased 0.1% to 1,063,494 units, resulting in an 80.1% market share.

Light vehicle seasonally adjusted annualized sales (SAAR) for April 2024 was 15.9 million units versus 15.77 million units one year ago.

General Motors monthly sales decreased 2.2%, Ford sales decreased 2.2%, but Stellantis sales dropped 25.9%.

As EV competition intensifies, Tesla sales decreased 17.4% from last April to 47,300 units, giving it a U.S. market share of 3.5%.

EV startup Rivian sales were down 5.9% to 3,939 vehicles, Polestar sales were down 45.1% from the same month last year to 450 vehicles, Lucid Motors sales were up 33.8% to 622 units, and newcomers Fisker sold 840 vehicles, while Ineos sold 543 SUVs.

Among Japanese companies, Toyota sales were up 13.7%, Nissan sales were down 11.2%, Honda sales were up 0.4%, Subaru sales were up 9.5%, Mitsubishi sales were down 19.1%, and Mazda sales were down 3.8%.

Hyundai sales were down 3.3%, and Kia sales were down 3.6%.

Among German companies, VW sales were up 27.2%, BMW sales were up 1.6%, and Mercedes-Benz sales were down 10.6%

Jaguar Land Rover sales increased 55.7% from last April, while Volvo Car sales increased 10.3%.

The best-selling models in April 2024 were:

  1. Ford F-Series (down 7.2% from April 2023)
  2. Chevrolet Silverado (up 8.1%)
  3. Toyota RAV4 (up 32.2%)
  4. Honda CR-V (up 1.4%)
  5. Tesla Model Y (down 9.1%)
  6. GMC Sierra (up 2.1%)
  7. Toyota Camry (down 8.6%)
  8. Ram Ram Pickup (down 35.9%)
  9. Honda Civic (up 35.1%)
 10. Toyota Corolla (up 27.0%)

(from Autodata results posted May 1, 2024)