09:10 27-05-2026

Toyota cuts production of key models like RAV4 and Hilux amid Iran crisis

Toyota cuts 83,000 vehicles due to Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockade. RAV4 and Hilux are hit hardest, causing potential delays and fewer discounts.

The conflict in Iran and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are now hitting the auto industry. Toyota has warned suppliers it will cut overseas production by roughly 83,000 vehicles through November.

The RAV4, one of the brand's most critical SUVs, is taking the biggest hit. Production cuts also affect models built on the IMV platform: the Hilux, Fortuner, and the new Land Cruiser FJ. Additionally, output of the Probox and Corolla Touring will be trimmed. Toyota cites rising fuel prices and weakening demand in the Middle East as the reasons.

The company had already taken steps in March and April, reducing Japanese production by 40,000 units destined for the Middle East. In May, Toyota halted one line at its Tsutsumi plant in Aichi Prefecture for two days and a second line at the Gifu Auto Body facility for one day.

The scale of the cuts is significant for Toyota. Chief financial officer Takanori Azuma previously noted that the company typically exports between 500,000 and 600,000 vehicles to the Middle East annually, and nearly half of that volume could be affected by the crisis. While the annual plan for Toyota and Lexus still exceeds 10 million cars, net profit is forecast to drop 22% to 3 trillion yen ($18.89 billion).

The disruption extends beyond Toyota. Nissan, according to the source, redirected 1,400 Patrol SUVs originally bound for the Middle East to the US, where they will be marketed as the Armada. This highlights how manufacturers are being forced to quickly reconfigure logistics and target markets.

For buyers, the main concern is not that models will disappear, but that delays and reduced trim availability will occur. With lower output of the RAV4, Hilux, and Fortuner, dealers in some markets will receive fewer vehicles, making discounts even less likely. In a crisis, what gets expensive first is not the car itself, but the right to buy one without waiting.