Posted: 5/09/2016
Record best August new-vehicle sales in past nine years with ever-popular HiLux and Corolla leading market for the month and year so far.
The two leading Toyota vehicles were joined by Camry in fifth place, handing Toyota three of the top five spots on the sales ladder, while LandCruiser wagon had its best result for any month since June 2004.
Toyota’s market-leading August tally of 18,650 sales was more than 28 per cent higher than the same month last year – the company’s best August apart from an extraordinary 2007 result.
August was the second consecutive month in which Toyota sold more than twice as many new vehicles as any other brand.
Corolla, including the new hybrid variant, was the nation’s top-selling vehicle for the month with dealers distributing 3,554 hatches and sedans, an increase of 16.5 per cent compared with a year earlier.
HiLux was a close second with 3,311 deliveries – a dramatic improvement on the corresponding month last year when the previous-generation model was in run-out.
These two acclaimed models have also grabbed the sales “quinella” so far in 2016, although the positions are reversed with HiLux having its nose in front by fewer than 100 units as Australia’s best-seller – 27,618 to 27,525 sales.
So far this year, Toyota dealers have delivered 138,459 vehicles – a gain of 4.1 per cent compared with the same period last year and almost 60,000 vehicles ahead of its nearest rival.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the company’s August result featured double-digit percentage growth for passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles.
“Toyota’s SUV sales were remarkably strong, gaining 43.6 per cent with outstanding demand from families and businesses, particularly for Prado, LandCruiser and RAV4,” Mr Cramb said.
“Camry reported its best August in a decade, HiLux edged further ahead as Australia’s best-selling four-wheel-drive vehicle and HiAce van achieved its strongest August result since 2009,” he said.