[Kazie]

Toyota Is Warning Dealers Not to Take Too Many GR Corolla Orders

There's huge demand for Toyota's new hot hatch, and that's making it hard to get in certain parts of the country.

www.roadandtrack.com

Demand for the Toyota GR Corolla is strong. So strong, in fact, that Toyota is asking some dealers to stop taking orders because not all can be fulfilled.

"We have places right now, and parts of the country where there are so many orders being taken, we have to stop," said Jack Hollis, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota Motor North America, in an interview with Road & Track. A spokesperson further explained that Toyota doesn't want dealers taking customer deposits when there aren't enough allocations. Production of the GR Corolla will be fairly limited, as the car is largely hand-built at Toyota's GR factory in Motomachi, Japan. For the 2023 model year, there will be 6500 built, and production won't exceed 8000 units annually in future years.


There was some enthusiast outcry—including from the staff of Road & Track—over the fact that the rally-homologation GR Yaris wouldn't be sold in North America. We asked Hollis if the GR Corolla was greenlit in response to the positive reception of the GR Yaris here, but he said that the car was already in progress before the Yaris was revealed.

"Every product, whether it be Yaris, Corolla, 86, Supra comes from this family of GR, or this GR company. So when you say ‘Did we consider [the GR Yaris]?’ we consider anything," Hollis said. "It was just that we knew that GR Corolla fit our market... Doesn’t mean the GR Yaris couldn’t come here either, it's just that GR Corolla is what we made a commitment to."

AARON BROWN

AARON BROWN

The initial demand certainly indicates that Toyota made a good choice in bringing the GR Corolla here. (There's also the fact that homologating the GR Yaris for North America would've been expensive, as the regular Yaris isn't sold here.)

A Toyota spokesperson said that demand for the GR Corolla is likely higher on the coasts. The car isn't sold out for 2023, though. The consensus seems to be that if you want one at MSRP, the best tactic is to call dealers throughout the country.

Hollis is, unsurprisingly, very excited for the GR Corolla. "I think you gotta go to ‘What is GR?’ If you look at GR as being a personal passion point for Akio Toyoda, you have to sort of start from the genesis," Hollis said. "The fact that he himself is involved with the products that are being developed, the fact that GR86—starting back with Scion and FR-S—and moving on to Supra, you’re continuously seeing more and more what? Excitement, play, youthfulness, so the GR Corolla is just the next step in an evolution of the GR-ness in our company."

 

[Cptnslo]

Saw this. I’ll be curious how it all ends up working out.

 

[ryno9100]

Toyota Is Warning Dealers Not to Take Too Many GR Corolla Orders

There's huge demand for Toyota's new hot hatch, and that's making it hard to get in certain parts of the country.

www.roadandtrack.com

I don't have an account there and can't be bothered to sign up for their newsletter. Is the TL;DR that Toyota is telling dealers not to get too many people's hopes up because supply will be low?

 

[Frackz]

Toyota Is Warning Dealers Not to Take Too Many GR Corolla Orders - NewsExplorer

There's huge demand for Toyota's new hot hatch, and that's making it hard to get in certain parts of the country.

newsexplorer.net

 

[jimv2013]

I saw this already as I’m essentially off this week and Google GR Corolla a few times a day because I’m so thirsty for more details haha. They didn’t really tell us anything that we don’t already know…basically that there are 6500 coming to the US for the 2023 model year and that production won’t ever top 8000 a year.

The article also said that dealerships on the coasts are seeing more demand for the GRC than other areas, which makes sense. The math comes out to about 4 per each dealership in the states, so get on a list if you haven’t yet. That being said I’d imagine that some dealerships will get more/less than others based on demand.

 

[Frackz]

I saw this already as I’m essentially off this week and Google GR Corolla a few times a day because I’m so thirsty for more details haha. They didn’t really tell us anything that we don’t already know…basically that there are 6500 coming to the US for the 2023 model year and that production won’t ever top 8000 a year.

The article also said that dealerships on the coasts are seeing more demand for the GRC than other areas, which makes sense. The math comes out to about 4 per each dealership in the states, so get on a list if you haven’t yet. That being said I’d imagine that some dealerships will get more/less than others based on demand.

sounds like it.. from what i can tell if you do want one when order banks really open up just have your name\order in.. chances are if you're waiting from the beginning maybe the worst that can happen is you get a 24 vs a 23 as long as they make another 8000 for 2024.

 

[Demma]

I saw this already as I’m essentially off this week and Google GR Corolla a few times a day because I’m so thirsty for more details haha. They didn’t really tell us anything that we don’t already know…basically that there are 6500 coming to the US for the 2023 model year and that production won’t ever top 8000 a year.

The article also said that dealerships on the coasts are seeing more demand for the GRC than other areas, which makes sense. The math comes out to about 4 per each dealership in the states, so get on a list if you haven’t yet. That being said I’d imagine that some dealerships will get more/less than others based on demand.

No it said 6500 are being built not coming to the US big difference

 

[jimv2013]

No it said 6500 are being built not coming to the US big difference

No it said 6500 are being built not coming to the US big difference

sounds like it.. from what i can tell if you do want one when order banks really open up just have your name\order in.. chances are if you're waiting from the beginning maybe the worst that can happen is you get a 24 vs a 23 as long as they make another 8000 for 2024.

Most outlets have already reported that 6500 are coming to the US and that there will be an additional 2000 or so for other markets. That 6500 is the US number.

 

[Jeonsa]

So everybody that’s 8th on their list is getting one next year most likely.

 

[HatchbackEnthusiast]

I've all but come to accept that I won't be getting one from the first MY even though I placed my deposit a month before the reveal. Now I hope that there is a special edition for the 2nd MY so I can snag that.

 

[Jeonsa]

I've all but come to accept that I won't be getting one from the first MY even though I placed my deposit a month before the reveal. Now I hope that there is a special edition for the 2nd MY so I can snag that.

Of course, the Rallye edition with the carbon fiber roof, hood vents, numbered plaque, and the limited edition blue color. 1 year only, never going to happen again.

Then the year after that will be the Carbon edition with the carbon roof and carbon accents 😂.

 

[luluna]

It's likely directed to the famous deposit taking dealership that has over 100 people in line...

Unless they have a lot of weight to throw, even if they produce it for 8 years and get an average of 1 GRC a month, they still wouldn't have enough to satisfy their current line....

 

[ryno9100]

Of course, the Rallye edition with the carbon fiber roof, hood vents, numbered plaque, and the limited edition blue color. 1 year only, never going to happen again.

I might would actually sell my red one for that after only a year if they did that...

 

[Driven]

Really wish we could just buy direct from Toyota, ala Tesla. Hate dealerships.

 

[therra.voice]

,

 

[Kazie]

Been to the dealer where a friend is the sales manager and showed him the exact article. He said not to worry, Toyota had a meeting this week, and it seems that GRC is not getting the attention they're expecting for after the launch - which is GREAT NEWS for us that are looking to get one .
He said " This statement is possibly part of the marketing strategy to attract and steer attention towards GRC to make it more desirable and to justify the price to be listed soon.

Thank you for the info. I can sleep better now. 😃

 

[Cptnslo]

Been to the dealer where a friend is the sales manager and showed him the exact article. He said not to worry, Toyota had a meeting this week, and it seems that GRC is not getting the attention they're expecting for after the launch - which is GREAT NEWS for us that are looking to get one .
He said " This statement is possibly part of the marketing strategy to attract and steer attention towards GRC to make it more desirable and to justify the price to be listed soon. Toyota was expected a better response and attention than actually received, and in anticipation to the price release, which may further steer away some of the possible targeted clients, is trying to hype and make GRC more desirable

He showed me Toyota's scheduled plan for GRC for Canada as following - guessing that US is 1-2 weeks ahead of Canada

• July 29th t - "VO6" - they're getting the defined packages and pricing.
• September 29th - "First Order" - Start accepting actual orders(with invoice and VIN #s )
• October 29th - "Line off" - Actual cars in the dealership including deliveries for first orders

He said that based on the market response after the launch, Toyota is forecasting less GRC sales than anticipated for year 2023, and that they're about to start a marketing campaign, as having desirable performance GR models sitting on the lot it doesn't look good for business - Akyo really needs GRC and Gazoo branding to succeed to remove the "appliance" stain off from Toyota's name

Most useful bit of info I’ve read in awhile! Thank you!

 

[JTBros]

Did Longo take deposits? I feel like we’d be hearing about a lot of people from there if there was some truth to this.

 

[rallycorolla]

Been to the dealer where a friend is the sales manager and showed him the exact article. He said not to worry, Toyota had a meeting this week, and it seems that GRC is not getting the attention they're expecting for after the launch

This is rather surprising to me - pretty much all of the automotive press has been all over this car since it was announced. It could be just my bias but enthusiasts seem to be really excited for this car. What kind of response were they expecting?

 

[Pre]

This is rather surprising to me - pretty much all of the automotive press has been all over this car since it was announced. It could be just my bias but enthusiasts seem to be really excited for this car. What kind of response were they expecting?

Probably have metrics for clicks, online this and that. They didn’t get the Randy and Karen responses they were expecting because Randy and Karen are squares. They take one look “eeewww hatchback, who wants that” then they go get in their lift kit hatchback with up right seating and body cladding and head to Taco Bell.