KATHMANDU: Toyota RAV4 demand has increased significantly in the US market, with dealers reporting that available inventory is disappearing within hours.
The redesigned RAV4 has attracted strong customer interest, with some dealers having hundreds of buyers waiting for deliveries. Many incoming units are being sold before reaching dealership lots.
To increase supply, Toyota has started production of the 2026 RAV4 at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant. The additional US production is expected to support availability, although supply constraints are expected to continue.
Some Toyota dealers have reported high waiting lists for the new model. Toyota executives said the shortage was mainly due to the production transition for the redesigned hybrid-only RAV4.
The company converted factories in Japan and Canada, which temporarily reduced production capacity during the launch process.
Toyota’s sales chief Damon Rose said the company is currently measuring RAV4 inventory in hours of supply rather than days. The model recorded a 97.6 percent turn rate last month.
Toyota also conducted extensive testing of the new RAV4 before increasing production. The company accumulated more than 700,000 miles of real-world testing under different conditions.
Despite limited availability, Toyota expects the RAV4’s annual sales to remain below its potential due to supply restrictions. The strong demand continues to make the SUV one of Toyota’s most sought-after models, writes Carscoops.
