Toyota Output Slides as Production Shifts to New RAV4 Model

Toyota global output dropped 3.9% in February as the automaker transitioned to the new RAV4 model, despite strong overall demand and growth in the U.S.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 4:53 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

Impact of the RAV4 Model Transition

The global production total for February sat at 749,673 vehicles. While demand for Toyota products remains robust, the logistical challenges of switching production lines for the RAV4—one of the company’s most critical global models—led to localized bottlenecks. Canada, a major hub for RAV4 manufacturing, saw the sharpest decline, with output plummeting nearly 50% as assembly lines were offline or in limited operation for the model changeover.

Regional Production Performance

The February production report showed a marked divergence between different geographic manufacturing hubs:

Canada: -46.2% (Retooling for new RAV4)

Middle East: -20.4% (Likely impacted by regional instability and the ongoing Iran conflict)