Why Is the Corolla the World’s Best-Selling Car of All Time?

Back when the industry was young, it was the Model T.  As the first mass-produced automobile, it sold over 19 million units and was so dominant in sales that historians note that in 1914, 90 percent of automobiles on the planet were Ford.  Decades later, the Volkswagen Beetle topped the Model T by being the first automobile to sell over 20 million units.  But here at Valley Hi Toyota, you’ll find the latest example of the car that beats them all.  The Corolla is the world’s best-selling car of all time. 

Born to Be a Best-Seller

The Toyota Corolla has been the best-selling car in the world for the last 22 years, with overall sales topping 50 million back in August 2021.  Some of the reasons for its sales success are pretty obvious.  To start, it is sold in over 150 countries.  The model has also been around for a while.  In fact, it has been around longer than most of the people who presently design, build, sell and own it, having first rolled off the assembly line in 1966.  Those first Corollas were sold only in the Japanese market and within three years, became Japan’s best-selling vehicle.  But Toyota had world-car aspirations for the Corolla from the get-go. The company’s vision was to have it sold and locally assembled in many countries, transferring technology in the process.  And so they have.

Still, none of those aspirations would have come to pass if the Corolla had been just an ordinary car. Its quality was apparent from the beginning, as was its innovation.  The early Corollas featured bucket seats and a floor shifter at a time when bench seats and column stalks were the norm.  It was also the first car to feature white reverse lights.  Decades later, the Corolla was the first mass-produced model to feature both Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) and 4-valve-per-cylinder engine technology; now both are standard across the industry.

Affordable, Yet Advanced

Naturally, a key aspect that the Toyota Corolla shares with previous world best-sellers is affordability.  At a time when the average new car MSRP in the US tops $47,000, the 2023 Toyota Corolla’s starting MSRP is $21,550.  Of course, there have been plenty of compact sedans and hatchbacks in the Corolla’s price range, but Toyota has always kept a step ahead by continually advancing the accommodations and styling inside and out.  Technology from more expensive models quickly finds its way to the Corolla line such as today’s advanced, yet standard Toyota Safety Sense features. And of course, the model line is always, always, always infused with segment-leading quality, reliability, and durability; attributes recognized and appreciated literally around the world.

Choose Your Flavor

Of course, it helps that there isn’t just “A Corolla”. Here at Valley Hi Toyota, you’ll find all the different kinds of vehicles the Corolla has become, from the very affordable, yet well-equipped L, the 50-MPG-achieving Hybrid LE, or the plush and sporty XSE.  And that is just the sedans, as you also have the aggressive yet practical Corolla Hatchback, and even the gonzo-performing AWD, 300 hp GR Corolla.  The Toyota Corolla even serves as the backbone for the useful and spacious Corolla Cross.  You’ll find a Corolla just for you at Valley Hi Toyota, Victorville, California – even if it may be one in 50 million.

Tags: Best In Class, Best Seller, Corolla, History, Most Popular, Popular Model
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