--- title: "Toyota’s Sales Keep Climbing Despite Every Reason Not To: TDS" date: "2026-04-27" modified: "2026-04-27" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyotas-sales-keep-climbing-despite-every-reason-not-to-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Toyota’s Sales Keep Climbing Despite Every Reason Not To: TDS ![Toyota Camry production line]() *\Toyota\* Good morning and welcome to *[The Downshift]()*, or *TDS* for short. *The Downshift* is our daily summary of all the auto industry headlines you need to know. News is recapped with a few sentences with links to dig deeper if you wish, and it pairs great with a warm caffeinated beverage of your choosing. Let's kick Monday off, shall we? 📈 Toyota fended off supplier headwinds due to the war in the Middle East as well as U.S. tariffs to record 11.3 million sales globally for the fiscal year that has just concluded, per [*Bloomberg*](). In the U.S. specifically, the automaker claimed nearly 2.52 million vehicles sold across Toyota and Lexus brands, a 7.7% increase over the prior period. The results for March alone better reflected the current predicament facing manufacturers, though, with global sales tumbling 6% year-on-year. 💡 Nissan has patented a pickup truck tailgate design that allows the gate to roll up and over top of the bed, to allow drivers to carry longer items without dropping the tailgate normally, per *[Autoblog]()*. 💶 Kia is on a campaign to cut prices in Europe to better compete with Chinese automakers, *[Reuters]()* reports. 📱 Audi has [introduced]() the refreshed Q4 E-Tron, and while its infotainment screen has grown, it's also come at the expense of climate-control buttons. ⚡ Hyundai and Kia have extended the warranty for the Integrated Charging Control Unit in their EVs to 15 years or 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, according to *[Electrek]()*. ICCU faults have caused loss-of-power issues for some owners, and the automakers have tried to address them previously through recalls and software updates. 📜 A new bill in California would prevent the state's Department of Motor Vehicles from collecting surplus fees from auctioned cars without notifying the previous owners, and offering instruction as to how they can claim the money they are legally entitled to, per *[CalMatters]()*. 🏁 Weekend Race Results: - WRC Rally Islas Canarias: Sebastien Ogier won for Toyota - NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega: Corey Day won for Hendrick Motorsports - MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Alex Marquez won for Gresini Racing - NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega: Carson Hocevar won for Spire Motorsports *Got a tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()