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Toyota Marks 50 Millionth Vehicle Sold
Plano, Texas, August 26, 2021 – This past July, Toyota sold the 50-millionth Corolla, a milestone not just in Toyota history, but automotive history, as well.
Now in its 12th generation and over 55 years in production, Corolla remains one of the world’s top-selling vehicles, earning buyers’ confidence and trust one car at a time.
The 2022 Corolla combines advanced tech, sporty style and top-level comfort with up to 53/52/52 EPA estimated MPG in the hybrid model and the protection of standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 featuring automatic emergency braking.
Toyota introduced the Corolla in 1966, and it arrived in the U.S. in spring 1968 as a 1969 model, starting at about $1,700. Gas cost $0.35 a gallon, and the median household income was $7,700. The No. 1 TV show in America was “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” and top hit songs that early Corolla drivers would have heard on the optional AM radio included Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” Simon and Garfunkle’s “Mrs. Robinson” and The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.”
Corolla sales were already on the upswing when the October 1973 Oil Embargo set off a chain reaction of long lines and higher prices at the gas pump, and even fuel rationing. The increasing number of buyers who turned to Corolla could be confident that even just few gallons in the tank would be enough to meet the needs of the week or more.
By the mid-1980s, Toyota was building Corollas in the Unite States. Today, Corollas are built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc. which opened in 2011.
The new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Ala., begins building the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross in autumn of 2021.
First Generation: 1969-1970
The first Corolla was the essence of simplicity, with a clean and crisp design offering generous all-around visibility in coupe, four-door sedan and two-door wagon models. A coupe called Corolla Sprinter with a slightly lower semi-fastback roofline arrived later.
All Corollas had a short-stroke 1,077-cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine that used aluminum for the cylinder head, intake manifold, valve cover and clutch housing – pretty forward thinking at the time. Wheels were just 12-inch diameter, and the only transmission offered was a four-speed manual. With 60 horsepower (51 hp SAE net) zero-to-60 took around 17 seconds, and the top fuel economy estimate was in the high 20s.
The 1969 Corolla two-door sedan started at just under $1,700, and among its standard features were reclining front seats and a locking fuel-filler door.
Second Generation: 1971-1974
The second-generation Corolla grew in size, with a slightly longer wheelbase, moved up to 73 horsepower and offered Corolla’s first optional automatic transmission, a two-speed.
For 1972, an SR-5 coupe featured a 88-hp (SAE net) 1.6-liter engine with a five-speed manual transmission to be a fun companion to the new Celica sport coupe. Corolla had by this time become the second-best-selling car in the world.
Third Generation: 1975-1979
The Corolla again grew a bit in size and offered 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6-liter engines. The line added fastback coupe and Liftback models for 1976, which featured fresh front styling.
The Liftback was more like a sport wagon and added rear seat head room, the result being both sporty and eminently practical.
Fourth Generation: 1980-1984
A bold, angular design distinguished the fourth-generation Corolla, which kept its wide range of models.
The new design focused on roominess and quietness while adding more amenities. The U.S. model offered a 75-hp OHV 1.8-liter engine and the 4A-C 90-hp OHC 1.6-liter engine. The two-door models were praised for front seats with a “memory” feature that allowed the seats to slide forward to assist with rear seat ingress/egress, and then return to the same position and recline angle.
Fifth Generation: 1985-1988
The fifth-generation Corolla brought big news all around. The main series switched to front-wheel drive for added interior room and better all-weather traction.
In a joint venture with General Motors called New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), Toyota began building Corollas in California. All front-drive engines were now SOHC configuration.
A rear-drive Corolla model, known by its VIN prefix “AE86,” came in coupe and hatchback styles. The top GT-S version packed the heat of the legendary 4A-GE DOHC 1.6-liter engine.
In 1987, a new front-drive FX hatchback was added, and the top version, the FX16 GT-S, inherited the 4A-GE engine to create a new “hot hatch” model. The rear-drive GT-S would later become a drifting legend, in real life and in video games.
Sixth Generation: 1989-1992
The sixth-generation Corolla line was now all front-wheel drive, with all models powered by 16-valve DOHC engines and featuring four-wheel independent suspension. The Corolla All-Trac wagon and sedan models had an effective all-wheel drive system.
The new coupe featured pop-up headlights like the AE86 and came in SR-5 and GT-S models. The latter was quite sporty, indeed, featuring the 4A-GE engine, special wheels and a bold body kit. The GT-S had 135 horsepower in the 1990-1991 version.
Seventh Generation: 1993-1997
The seventh-generation Corolla, available only in sedan and wagon styles in the U.S., became more Camry-like in its design, and in fact moved up in cabin size to the compact segment while the Camry moved to midsize.
Both 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter DOHC engines were offered. For 1997, a CE sedan packaged numerous popular options for a special value-priced model. The timing seemed appropriate to celebrate Corolla becoming the best-selling car model in history that year.
Eighth Generation: 1998-2002
The eighth-generation Corolla improved on the proven formula, with yet more cabin room on the same wheelbase as the previous model. The redesigned unibody improved passenger crash protection and, notably, side airbags became available.
A new all-aluminum 1ZZ-FE 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine debuted the Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) system and made 120 horsepower with higher fuel economy ratings.
Ninth Generation: 2003-2008
In its ninth-generation, Corolla got a bit longer and taller to create its roomiest cabin ever. A Corolla S model added sport-tuned suspension and special body styling.
With its 130-horsepower engine, the Corolla had an EPA-estimated 31 combined MPG with the five-speed manual transmission and 28 combined MPG with the four-speed automatic. As a sign of the times, the center console box could hold 14 compact discs.
For 2005, the performance-tuned Corolla XRS model combined the high-revving 164-horsepower 2ZZ 1.8-liter engine from the Celica GT-S with a six-speed manual transmission and sport-tuned suspension.
10th Generation: 2009-2013
In the 10th-generation Corolla, the body had a sleeker look than before and was just as roomy. The XRS model returned, now with the 2.4-liter engine from the Camry for higher torque and greater responsiveness in everyday driving.
With CDs beginning to fade, the higher-grade Corolla models offered JBL Premium Audio with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
Comfort and tech had become higher priorities for compact car buyers, and the Corolla obliged with the XLE grade, which offered an available power moonroof and a JBL audio system with AM/FM/six-disc CD changer, plus satellite radio and eight speakers.
11th Generation: 2014-2018
The 11th-generation Corolla debuted a chiseled new body. The rear seat’s 41.4 inches of legroom exceeded that of many midsize and full-size sedans.
All Corolla models now featured eight standard airbags, including a new driver’s knee airbag and front passenger seat cushion airbag. The 2017 Corolla came standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P, a total safety system anchored by automatic emergency braking and that bundled the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection; Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist; Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beams.
The L and sporty S grades standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while the automatic transmission was now a CVT to boost fuel economy. The Corolla Eco model with Valvematic engine technology had an EPA estimated 42 MPG highway / 34 MPG combined.
12th Generation: 2019-present
For 2019, the Toyota Corolla line brought a new sedan with a lower, leaner, tauter look.
A sporty hatchback returned to the line after a long absence. Also, the first Corolla Hybrid Sedan debuted, becoming the fuel economy champ of the line with an astounding EPA estimated 52 combined MPG.
The Corolla Hatchback has a body all its own and channels the spirit of the past Corolla GT-S and XRS performance models, thanks to the 169-horsepower 2.0-liter Dynamic Force engine and rev-matching intelligent six-speed manual transmission. This hot yet highly efficient powerplant is also available in the Corolla sedan.
And, while the Corolla Hybrid is the line’s MPG rating leader, the other models are efficiency experts, too, with the 2.0-liter models having an estimated rating of up to 35 combined MPG.
2022 Corolla Cross
For 2022, the first-ever Corolla Cross joins the line, a new crossover with ample space to tackle the town and generously equipped with Toyota’s renowned comfort and tech features. All Corolla models are built on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform for high levels of agility and safety. And, all Corolla models feature standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 on all grades.
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