Toyota Australia posted record sales in the second half of 2023 as the country’s top-selling automotive brand marks its “coming of age” with a 21st consecutive year of market leadership.
Toyota’s full-year tally of 215,240 deliveries was the 19th time in the past 20 years that the local company’s sales have exceeded 200,000 vehicles – and it is the only brand to have achieved that total in a single year.
It was a year of contrasting halves with strong demand and greatly improved supply enabling Toyota dealers to deliver 123,005 vehicles to customers from July to December, an increase of 33.4% compared with the six months to June 30.
The previous second-half record of 120,124 deliveries was established by Toyota 16 years ago in 2007.
Continuing the multi-pathway approach to helping its customers reduce their carbon footprint, Toyota delivered 72,064 hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), representing a record share of more than one-third (33.5%) of total deliveries.
In doing so, Toyota accounted for almost three-quarters (73.2%) of all HEVs sold in Australia last year.
The hybrid share was above 80 per cent for Corolla sedan (84.3%), Corolla hatch (85.2%) and RAV4 (86.6%), and above 90% for Camry (92.3%).
All were record-high percentages, reflecting a consumer trend towards choosing vehicles that offer reduced fuel consumption and tailpipe CO2 emissions compared with equivalent petrol-only models.
Toyota has now sold 387,151 HEVs since the first Prius arrived in 2001, which the company calculates has reduced tailpipe CO2 emissions by the same amount as approximately 115,000 battery-electric vehicles.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing & Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the momentum that Toyota built in the second half of last year will continue into the first half of 2024.
“Increasingly, we are seeing people walking into a Toyota dealership knowing they will be able to take delivery of their new vehicle within a reasonable period of four to six months,” Mr Hanley said.
“That trend will accelerate this year with a stronger allocation of global production destined for Australian customers, particularly those seeking to save money on fuel and reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing a Toyota hybrid,” he said.
“We are grateful to every customer who has decided to purchase a Toyota from one of our 275 dealership locations around Australia, but we also know the job’s not done yet.
“We assure those who are waiting for delivery that we are doing everything possible to get you into your new Toyota at the earliest opportunity.
“We also want to thank the 61,111 customers who chose HiLux last year. This model has a special legacy with close to 1.3 million sales during its 55-year history in this country – a track record that confirms the “unbreakable” reputation of HiLux and its ongoing appeal in Australia.”
Mr Hanley said the year ahead will include several important new-model launches including the arrival next month of the company’s first battery-electric vehicle, bZ4X, with the choice of 2WD or AWD technologies.
Two new all-hybrid models are on the horizon with the stylish second-generation C-HR arriving in March and the popular mid-size Camry sedan in the second half of the year.
A new-generation of the vastly capable LandCruiser Prado is also slated for the middle of the year, bringing significant mechanical upgrades, enhanced performance and rugged styling changes.
In other Toyota highlights for 2023:
HiLux was Toyota’s best-selling vehicle, surpassing 60,000 sales for only the second time in its history (61,111).
HiLux has now been the top seller for the past 23 years in the NT, 17 years straight in Queensland, 16 consecutive years in WA and for each of the past three years in SA.
RAV4 was Australia’s best-selling SUV for the fourth consecutive year and also the country’s best-selling hybrid vehicle (25,666).
Prado – was Australia’s best-selling large SUV for the 9th year in a row.
Eight Toyota vehicles led their individual segments: Camry, RAV4, LandCruiser Prado, LandCruiser wagon, HiLux 4x2, HiAce Commuter bus, Coaster and HiAce van.