The Corolla and HiLux were Australia’s two best-selling vehicles so far this year, Toyota Australia said, citing official industry data.
Sales and marketing chief Tony Cramb said the automotive industry is the stand-out performer in Australian retailing.
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“Strong competition, the highest levels of affordability in decades, low interest rates and a relatively strong economy are all pointing to a full-year year total of at least 1.1m sales,” Cramb said.
“We are potentially heading for another all-time record and the fourth consecutive year above the magic million.
“The July-December half is traditionally stronger for Toyota, providing confidence we will achieve our 11th consecutive year of market leadership with well over 200,000 sales.
Australians last month bought an unprecedented 118,758 new vehicles – the highest for any month on record and 5.5% ahead of the previous record set in June 2012.
Toyota said its HiLux pickup line had its best month ever, leading the industry with 4,931 sales while the redesigned Corolla [Auris] was second with 4,196 deliveries – the third consecutive month these two vehicles have scored the one-two sales ‘quinella’.
The Corolla is Australia’s most popular car line in 2013 with the HiLux now second.
It is the first time Toyota vehicles have headed the national sales chart at the half-way mark of the year.
The Corolla has faced stiff competition in recent years from Mazda’s 3 which, like its rival is sold in both hatchback and sedan forms ‘down under’. Mazda Australia reportedly has said it expects its redesigned model, due out soon, to retake the car leadership crown.
Booming June sales lifted Australian industry sales for the first half of 2013 to 573,711 vehicles – a record half-year result.
In the financial year ended 30 June, sales tallied 1,137,889 vehicles – a new record for any calendar or financial year.
The 12-month total was almost 26,000 ahead of the previous record of 1.11m set in calendar 2012 and more than 77,000 ahead of the previous best financial year (1.06m in 2011-12).
Toyota’s sales were 22,160 vehicles for June, 106,110 for the half year and 218,251 for the financial year – all higher year on year.
The automaker outsold its closest rival by more than 11,600 vehicles in June while its lead for the half year is more than 53,800 sales and for the financial year exceeds 108,200 units.
