|
An all-time record sales performance by Corolla has helped Toyota reinforce its
position as Australia’s favourite motor vehicle brand, the company topping the
sales charts for the first half of 2005.
According to industry statistician VFACTS, Toyota sold 97,976 vehicles during
the six months to the end of June, ahead of Holden (90,228) and Ford (66,744).
It’s the second highest half-yearly total recorded by any brand in Australian
automotive history and exceeded only by Toyota’s own record of 100,727 set in
the first half of last year.
Leading the Toyota sales charge was its Corolla model, which attracted 5221
buyers – up 18.5 per cent on the previously monthly best for that model of 4407
set in December 2000.
According to VFACTS it was the highest monthly result attained by any small
car in Australian history.
“The extraordinary performance of Corolla last month suggests that fuel
efficiency is becoming a more important consideration for car buyers,” said
Toyota Australia’s executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner.
Toyota’s half-yearly result was further boosted by record performances from
its recently launched new-generation HiLux and HiAce models.
HiLux dominated the four-wheel drive pick-up/cab chassis segment in June with
1909 sales – up 4.8 per cent on June last year.
It was the best ever monthly result for HiLux 4x4, beating the previous best
of 1822 set in June 2004.
HiLux 4x2 sales were up 24.2 per cent on the same month last year to 1861 –
and beat the previous all-time record of 1555 set in June 1994.
HiAce Van, meanwhile, posted 600 sales – up 10.9 per cent on the previous
June.
“We were very hopeful that our new light commercial vehicle models would
shoot to the top of their respective segments once we secured sufficient supply
– and so it’s turned out,” said David Buttner.
“Once again Toyota’s emphasis on fuel efficiency has been a sales driver as
demand for diesel-engined HiLux substantially exceeds our predictions.”
Toyota’s hybrid-engined Prius – which uses up to 50 per cent less petrol than
an equivalent-sized conventional car – also set an all-time record of 158 sales
in June, easily beating the previous best of 133 sales in December 2004.
Fuel-efficient four-cylinder Camry has maintained its dominance of the medium
car segment in the face of stiff opposition, selling 12,078 in the six months to
June – up 2.3 per cent on the same period last year.
|
