Toyota recorded its 13th consecutive year of growth in the UK in 2005 with overall sales of Toyota and Lexus cars and Toyota-brand commercial vehicles up 1.69% to 138,536 units.
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The Toyota brand, which has a car plant in Derbyshire and an engine plant on Deeside, achieved 5% market share for the first time ever (actually 5.02% according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders [SMMT] data).
Toyota was up 1.2% to 122,534 – a credible result as dealers ran-out stocks of the top-selling Yaris hatchback prior to the 1 January launch of a redesigned model line. However, Toyota light commercial sales – Hiace van and Hilux pickup truck – dropped 21.75% to 5,454 while market share was off from 2.11% to 1.69%.
Lexus brand sales rose 4.99% to 10,548 units and 0.43% market share.
Toyota’s Corolla (24,199 sales mostly of UK-built hatchbacks, supplemented by small numbers of the Turkish-built sedan and wagon), seven-seat Verso minivan (also made in Turkey; 9,570) and Prius hybrid (3,749) all recorded their highest ever annual sales. Toyota’s best selling model was again the outgoing French and Japanese-built Yaris line (33,981).
Toyota’s record results contrast with the UK car market overall which was down 5% in 2005. Retail sales (i.e. to private, not company buyers) were down 7.3% overall, but Toyota bucked also that trend with sales in the sector up a record 5.5%.
Toyota also reported a record year for parts and accessory sales, up 3% year on year.
As well as the just-launched redesigned Yaris, Toyota GB’s planned 2006 new model launches include the redesigned RAV4 compact SUV in February.
It recently confirmed to just-auto that it would sell only the short-wheelbase five-seat, five-door model with four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
A long-wheelbase seven-seat version and V6 petrol engine were included in the new range launched late last year in the United States but there are no plans to sell them in the UK or Europe, officials said. The three-door body style has been dropped from the redesigned range.
Graeme Roberts
