Toyota to Sell All Models at Any Dealership

September 27, 2018

Nagoya- Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. is discussing plans to sell all vehicle models at any of its some 5,000 domestic outlets, breaking with the practice of addressing different market segments through multiple dealership networks, informed sources said Thursday.

Toyota aims to implement the change around 2025 as part of a thorough review of its sales strategy, the sources said.

Currently, the leading automaker has four dealership channels--"Toyota" dealers that mainly handle luxury vehicles, "Toyopet" dealers for medium-class vehicles, the "Corolla" chain for low-end models and "Netz" stores targeting young people.

Each of the four chains sells designated models to meet different customer needs. Some models, including the Prius hybrid, are sold via multiple channels.

Toyota plans to maintain the four dealership networks, but their product lineups will be unified.

The luxury Lexus-brand models will be an exception to the coming review.

With the overhaul, Toyota plans to slash the number of vehicle models sold in Japan from the current 60 in a bid to increase its profitability by cutting development and sales costs.

Amid sluggish sales in Japan, Toyota also plans to enter the domestic car-sharing business from next spring, hoping to win new customers and increase its group earnings, according to the sources. Jiji Press