Offering buyers a combination of exceptional gas mileage, great value for money, and one of the largest dealer networks in the world, it is no wonder the Toyota Corolla has become one of the best-selling cars in the world. When you look back over the course of the past 40 years, Corolla sales have averaged one vehicle every 40 seconds.
What might surprise most people is that the Corolla earned this title as early as 1974 and by 2013 had sold over 40 million units. The Corolla has sold more units than the venerable Volkswagen Beetle, the Mini Cooper, and the Ford F150.
Affordability is Only Part of the Picture
While there are many reasons why the Toyota Corolla continues to endure and enjoy such incredible sales, many compare it to the Model T Ford in that it has always been intended as an affordable car. It not only comes with a low initial purchase price, but it also has low operating costs.
Operation costs are gauged on more than one level. They include fuel economy, the cost of maintenance and repairs, and, of course, durability. However, as with any automobile, the initial outlay is typically the first thing most buyers look at, and the Corolla has long been one of the least expensive entry-level vehicles. The first Corollas came off the production lines way back in 1966 when the KE10 Corolla rolled into special dealerships in Japan.
Reliability is the Key to Success
Whether you are talking about an automobile, a NASA spacecraft, or a fancy ballpoint pen, there is one very important reason one brand sells more and achieves the level of success that a car like the Corolla has managed: reliability and the ability to do exactly what the manufacturer has stated its product is capable of.
The Toyota Corolla might historically have been one of those cars that seemingly hides in the background. However, if you keep producing a vehicle that continues to perform in exactly the same way as it was intended for 50 years, at some point, it will find its way into the limelight. It’s products like this that seem to outlast all others.
Innovation in its Simplest Form
Just because the Corolla is an entry-level car does not mean it can’t be ahead of the curve in design and features. Over the course of the past 50 years, the Corolla has gone from a rear-wheel-drive platform to front-wheel drive and even comes in all-wheel drive to meet the many driving conditions buyers are likely to encounter.
Today’s Corolla might no longer be the quiet, simple car that hides in the background. Instead, it offers sleek sporty styling, LED lighting, alloy rims, the Entune audio pack, and the latest 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system. With sales surpassing 43 million, the Corolla continues to be the best-selling car in the world and has a long future ahead of it.
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