As the industry awaits the release of provisional – and then official
registration statistics – Toyota has issued a statement claiming it was
a record year for the company.
And most importantly, it says the records of its leading models – the Corolla and Hilux – are intact.
The
company says its new vehicle sales were up 8.9% on 2012, amid an
extremely buoyant car market, thanks to increasing consumer and rural
spending- selling 24,262 Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Toyota New Zealand general manager of sales, Steve Prangnell, says it’s been a stand-out year.
“So
again we must thank New Zealand for its continued faith in our
vehicles,” says Prangnell. “26 years at number one is a fantastic
endorsement of Toyota by New Zealand.”
Toyota says Corolla was the most popular car of the year with 5995 registrations.
“The Corolla has been the country’s favourite passenger car in its segment for 16 out of the last 26 years,” Prangnell notes.
The Hilux marked 32 years of consecutive market leadership with 454 sold in December and 5039 units sold in total in 2013.
At one point it was looking as if the Ford Ranger would usurp Toyota to the title – till a late surge from the Japanese-brand.
Toyota’s used vehicle division also achieved a record of 8312 sales.
