Crossover SUVs, also known as CUVs, had very strong sales last year, indicating their popularity among U.S. consumers. To meet demand this year, Toyota has decided to increase production of one of its most popular crossover models and even hinted at developing an all-new compact CUV.
At the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota CEO Jim Lentz told Bloomberg that Toyota will continue expanding production of the Toyota RAV4 through spring and that the company is keeping a close eye on the market under the Toyota RAV4, which he believes is going to grow even stronger. Lentz stated, “There’s no question that it’s going to. That’s going to be the next growth spurt.”
Lentz is referring to the compact crossover market, a segment that he thinks will mushroom as America’s taste for more agile and efficient SUVs develops. And it’s because of this expected growth that Toyota is considering a new compact SUV, which would slot in just below RAV4.
Crossover and SUV sales have helped Toyota maintain its lead as the largest automaker on the planet, especially since many consumers have shifted from purchasing large sedans to buying small and midsize utility vehicles, a trend that started even before gas prices plummeted downward.
With models like the new 2015 Toyota RAV4, Highlander, Land Cruiser and 4Runner, the company already offers a wide selection of attractive crossovers and SUVs, all of which you can find now at Crown Toyota. But, of course, we still hope the news about Toyota expanding its compact SUV lineup is true.
As always, we’ll keep you posted with details regarding this and other updates via our blog. Subscribe to our RSS feed to keep apprised of the latest dealership happenings and Toyota news.
