Toyota global sales: Australia punches above its weight

The continuing dominance of the Toyota Hilux and Corolla in 2016 and a record year for Lexus has seen Australia become the second biggest market per capita for the global automotive giant, after Japan.

The local market is also the seventh overall, ahead of bigger markets such as Canada, Brazil, the UK and every nation in Europe, according to figures released by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).

Toyota Australia sold 218,738 vehicles last year ‑ including 9027 Lexus ‑ which equates to 8.9 cars per 1000 people, behind Japan (12.5 per 1000) but ahead of the USA (7.5) which is the company’s biggest market.

Toyota Australia's executive director of sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the strength of the local sales figures was magnified by Australia having more automotive brands and models competing here than other major markets.

"The incredible loyalty shown by Australian motorists over more than half a century has enabled us to achieve a dominant share of the local market and to be placed among the strongest sales countries in the Toyota world," Mr Cramb said.

"The proportion of Australians who buy Toyota vehicles is higher than in the United States and we outsell countries that have substantially larger population bases," he said.

It remains to be seen if Toyota Australia can maintain its high global ranking once it ceases local production of the Camry. The company is anticipating a drop in Toyota Camry sales once the model is imported, however it is confident new models such as the CH-R crossover will provide a boost.

The end of local Camry production is also unlikely end Toyota’s 14-year reign as Australia’s top manufacturer, with 100,000 more sales than nearest rival Mazda (118,217) in 2016.

Top-10 Toyota sales by country, 2016

1. USA – 2,449,628
2. Japan – 1,580,851
3. China – 1,214,163
4. Indonesia – 389,341
5. Thailand – 245,087
6. Saudi Arabia – 228,049
7. Australia – 218,738
8. Canada – 217,792
9. Brazil – 179,441
10. Philippines – 158,728

Top-10 Toyota sales per 1000 people, 2016

1. Japan – 12.5
2. Australia – 8.9
3. USA – 7.5
4. Saudi Arabia – 7.0
5. Canada – 5.9
6. Thailand – 3.6
7. Philippines – 1.5
8. Indonesia – 1.5
9. China – 0.9
10. Brazil – 0.9