Toyota’s slower ramp of battery electric vehicle (BEV) production and sales relative to its peers was a common investor concern a year ago. However, with the recent slowdown in consumer adoption of BEVs in North America and Europe and Toyota’s dominance in the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market, those concerns have abated, at least for the time being. Importantly, Toyota management has indicated its profitability of its HEV portfolio is on par with its ICE portfolio profitability. We continue to believe that Toyota’s market leading position in HEVs provides consumers with a more eco-friendly option than traditional ICE vehicles that can serve as a bridge to EVs while the charging infrastructure is built out and the cost of producing EVs is reduced.

Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) credit metrics stable. TMCC F3Q24 earnings before taxes increased 50% YoY and 3x sequentially. At F3Q24 the delinquency rate expanded 10 bp YoY to 0.9%, nearly double pre-pandemic levels, while the retail charge-off rate expanded 10bp YoY to 0.7%. The company notes that changes in interest rates or unemployment could increase credit losses and additional provisioning. Additionally, elevated prices and high borrowing costs have impacted some consumers’ ability to make scheduled payments resulting in an increase in consumer delinquencies and charge-offs.