Posted: 6/01/2016
Toyota led the way as Australian new-vehicle sales accelerated to record levels in 2015, posting the company's 13th straight year as the market leader and the third year in a row with Corolla as the country's best-selling car.
Toyota was the number one brand in every state and territory as the local automotive industry outperformed general economic conditions to achieve an all-time high of 1.155 million new-vehicle registrations.
Corolla's hat-trick along with record sales for Toyota SUVs and best-selling status for its vehicles in nine categories were instrumental in Toyota lifting sales by 1.3 per cent to 206,236 new vehicles.
Toyota dealers sold an industry-high average of 565 vehicles every day in 2015, delivering more passenger cars, more SUVs and more light-commercial vehicles than any of their rivals.
It was the fourth year in a row and the 11th time in the past 12 years that Toyota sales have exceeded 200,000 vehicles - and it is the only company to have reached that number. Toyota has now been market leader for a total of 19 years.
A Toyota badge featured on three of the national top 10 sellers - Corolla, HiLux and Camry - after a hectic year in which the market leader refreshed or replaced models accounting for 70 per cent of its volume.
Toyota finished the year on a high, setting a new December record with 21,217 sales, more than 2,300 vehicles ahead of the combined totals of its nearest two rivals.
Camry was the national best-seller for the month, posting its best-ever four-cylinder sales of 5,321 sedans.
Toyota's executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the company and its dealers planned to use the 2015 results as a springboard to expand sales through enhanced customer satisfaction.
"The next 12 months will provide the full-year benefits of 13 new or refreshed models that arrived in 2015, delivering on our promise to continue offering ever-better cars," Mr Cramb said.
"Equally as important, we will continue to implement a cultural shift throughout our company and dealer network, focused on ensuring owners and prospects are treated as valued guests of the Toyota family," he said.
"We deeply appreciate the high degree of loyalty to Toyota shown by a significant proportion of the Australian population - and we are determined to establish industry-leading standards in every aspect of those relationships."
Toyota vehicles in 2015 were the best sellers in three passenger-car segments: Corolla (small), Camry (medium) and 86 (sports). In SUVs, the Toyota segment leaders were LandCruiser Prado (large) and LandCruiser wagon (upper-large). The light-commercial market featured Toyota's HiLux (4x2 and 4x4) and HiAce (van and bus) as the best sellers.
Corolla became the first Toyota to head the yearly sales chart in 2013, repeated the feat in 2014 and finished last year with a winning total of 42,073 sedans and hatches. It topped the monthly sales six times to record a victory margin of 3,429 vehicles.
HiLux was Australia's best-selling four-wheel-drive vehicle for the 11th consecutive year with 35,161 sales - a tally that also made HiLux the nation's third best-selling vehicle. It was the most popular vehicle in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory and led the national charts in May and October. An all-new eighth-generation range released in late September lifted sales in the last quarter of 2015.
Camry, on the back of a restyled and re-engineered range launched in May, attracted 27,654 customers - a gain of 25.4 per cent. The locally built sedan lifted its segment share of 53.1 per cent and completed a 22nd consecutive year as Australia's best-selling mid-size car. Included in the result is 5,881 hybrid variants, representing an increase of almost 11.2 per cent and the best result since 2012.
In other significant Toyota results:
• Kluger: Record yearly sales of 13,955 vehicles
• RAV4: All-time high of 18,435 vehicles