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Why Toyota Discontinued Scion—and What Happened to Its Cars

Toyota said Scion had completed its mission of attracting younger buyers. Here’s why the brand ended and which Scion models continued as Toyotas.
Entry746 Date Time2 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Toyota discontinued the Scion brand because it said Scion had fulfilled its original purpose: testing ways to attract younger buyers and bringing many of them into Toyota. In 2016, Toyota argued that its own vehicles had evolved to offer the styling and driving character Scion customers wanted, alongside Toyota’s established reputation for dependability. The transition began with 2017 model-year vehicles; some Scions became Toyotas, while the tC ended production.

Why did Toyota discontinue Scion?

Scion began in 2003 as a separate brand and a testing ground for products and sales approaches aimed at younger customers. When Toyota announced the brand’s end on February 3, 2016, it described the move as the completion of that mission—not as a failed experiment. Jim Lentz, Scion’s founding vice president and then CEO of Toyota Motor North America, called it “a leap forward for Toyota.” Toyota’s announcement

Toyota’s explanation was that younger buyers still wanted distinctive styling and fun-to-drive cars, but also valued the quality, dependability, and reliability associated with Toyota. The company said its Toyota lineup had developed enough in styling and handling to appeal to those customers without a separate Scion brand. That is Toyota’s stated rationale, not proof that all younger buyers shared the same preferences.

Did falling sales cause Scion to end?

Declining sales provide context, but Toyota’s announcement did not identify a sales slump as the sole cause. Toyota reported that Scion had sold more than 1 million cars and that 70 percent of its buyers were new to Toyota; it also said half of Scion buyers were under 35, with an average buyer age of 36. Those figures supported Toyota’s claim that Scion had introduced younger and first-time buyers to the company. Toyota’s 2016 figures

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Hot Wheels 2005 First Editions 1:64 Scale X-Raycers Clear Red Scion XB Die Cast Car #053
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A contemporaneous Los Angeles Times report contrasted 173,000 U.S. Scion sales in 2006 with 56,000 in 2015. That comparison helps explain the brand’s commercial backdrop, but it does not establish that falling volume alone drove Toyota’s decision.

What happened to the Scion models?

The brand transition began in August 2016 with 2017 model-year vehicles. The FR-S, iA, and iM joined Toyota’s lineup under new names, while the tC received a final release series and ended production in August 2016. Toyota later explained that it adopted the global name 86 for the sports car. Toyota’s transition announcement Toyota’s 86 name announcement

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Scion model Outcome Timing
FR-S Became the Toyota 86 Joined Toyota for the 2017 model year
iA Became the Toyota Yaris iA Joined Toyota for the 2017 model year
iM Became the Toyota Corolla iM Joined Toyota for the 2017 model year
tC Ended production August 2016, after a final release series
xB Ended production December 2015
iQ Left the lineup 2015
xD Discontinued 2014

The earlier xD, iQ, and xB departures came before Toyota announced the brand transition; Toyota’s Scion fact sheet gives their discontinuation dates.

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Could Scion owners still get service?

Toyota said Scion owners could continue to visit Toyota dealership service departments and that the service and repair process would be unaffected by the transition. For present-day parts or service, availability can depend on the vehicle and location, so confirm with a local Toyota dealer.

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