COROLLA: THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR CAR
FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

TOKYO―According to statistics compiled by Toyota Motor Sales Company, Ltd., the Toyota Corolla, Toyota's popular-size passenger car, recorded the highest production total of any car in the world in 1980―for a second consecutive year. This was, moreover, the sixth year that the Corolla won this distinction. (The statistics in question include only automakers' domestic production. They exclude the Communist bloc and production by foreign subsidiaries.)

Production statistics compiled by various automobile manufacturers associations around the world for 1980 list the following models as leaders in their respective nations: in Japan, the Toyota Corolla (771,720 units); in the U.S., the GM Citation (459,393 units); in West Germany, the Volkswagen Golf (517,619 units); in France, the Renault R5 (519,851 units); and in Great Britain, the British Ford Cortina (183,556 units). In addition, in Italy, the Fiat 138 accounted for 277,188 units during January-November 1980 (final figures for the year are not yet available).

The Corolla was developed by Toyota as a passenger car with appeal for a great variety of drivers, and from 1974 through 1977 more Corollas were produced than any other car in the world. In 1978, a combination of factors including the end of its model cycle and weakness in price competition overseas because of the strength of the Japanese yen hurt its performance; it was edged out of the lead by the VW Golf. The Corolla recaptured the Number One position in 1979 on the strength of a full model change. Then last year it set a new record of 771,720 production units as it won the production crown for the sixth time, outstripping its nearest competitor by over 250,000 units.

The Corolla is the undisputed champion of Japan's domestic auto market as well. It has held the monthly sales title for 53 consecutive months (September 1976 to January 1981) and has been Japan's best selling car for 12 consecutive years (1969-80).