Australia is going against the global trend with new car sales on the rise, Toyota chief John Conomos said, according to a report in the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Conomos, vice-president of Toyota Australia, said Australia was poised to break last year’s record of 824,000 new cars sales with a likely target of 850,000 in 2003. New car sales rose 6.6% in 2002 while sales are up 3.3% so far this year.

According to the newspaper, Conomos told the Australian Fleet Managers Association that 2003 would be a watershed year with fleet car sales dominated by what he called ‘user-choosers’, employees who selected their own car which was then paid for by their company.

“The user-chooser market will be the most important sector within the industry,” said Conomos.

He said Toyota expected to sell 12,000 of the new Landcruiser Prado four-wheel-drives in 2003 with 34% of the sales in fleets.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The sale of fleet cars had now outpaced private car sales by 52% to 48%. “It is unlikely private car sales will ever dominate again,” Conomos said.

Conomos said Australia was going against the trend in the world automotive market, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Auto Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving automotive industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now