Scalpers not allowed! Toyota Australia to screen GR Corolla buyers before approving sale

With prices of new cars increasing and demand also on the rise, plenty of hustlers are trying to make some profit by pricing their nearly-new purchases above the market price to get some willing buyers who will pay for anything just to get off a waiting list. Toyota Australia realises the existence of these price-gouging profiteers and is putting a stop to it for its most desirable model, the Toyota GR Corolla.

The GR Corolla was just launched in Australia fairly recently and it is limited to just 700 units in its first year of sale. These include 25 two-seater Morizo Edition models and because of these small allocated number of units, some dealers have taken the opportunity to increase prices.

In fact, checks across Australian online classifieds have shown even regular Toyota models like the Corolla Cross, Hilux, Land Cruiser Prado, and 70 Series Land Cruisers have asking prices that are well over the manufacturer’s list price.

Also read: Australia launches 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross; 2.0L Dynamic Force, EPB, moonroof, wireless CarPlay and more!

Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations manager, Sean Hanley told Australian media that he wants dealerships to do their part in stopping this type of “uncompetitive” behaviour from happening repeatedly.

“We remind (Toyota dealers) of their obligations and the standards at which we operate, very quickly,” said Hanley. “We don’t publicise it. If anything we believe is damaging our brand, we jump on it straight away.”

In order to curb these profiteering scalpers disguised as dealerships, Toyota Australia has informed dealers to get potential GR Corolla customers to fill out expression of interest forms. These are designed to help dealerships to find the right buyers for the hot hatch before signing any contracts or handing over deposits.

Hanley said that the form asks questions related to the customer’s “motoring interests and history – not just with Toyota, but with sports cars generally – and their involvement in car clubs”. It’s a move that he hopes would ensure “these cars end up in the hands of enthusiasts and loyal customers who truly want to enjoy their GR ownership”.

Also read: Think the Toyota GR Corolla is too similar to an Impreza WRX? It's because President Toyoda has a Subaru

Despite these extensive “background checks” on potential GR Corolla owners, Hanley said that there are no repercussions for those owners who merely sees Toyota’s hot hatch as a future classic investment. So potential GR Corolla flippers are still for the most part off the hook.

The bigger brother to the GR Yaris is powered by a 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (300 PS/370 Nm) and is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that sends power to all 4 wheels.

Also read: Review: Toyota GR Corolla - The enthusiast option for a one-car garage

In Australia, the GR Corolla is priced at AUD 62,300 (~RM 187k) while the two-seater Morizo Edition is priced at AUD 80,000 (~RM 240k). In Malaysia, the GR Corolla has just launched a couple of weeks ago alongside the GR 86 and GR Supra 6MT and prices for the hot hatch start from RM 355,000.

Also read: Yours for only RM 355k: Toyota GR Corolla launched in Malaysia - 300 PS/370 Nm, 6MT