Toyota record sales defy global trends
January 6, 2009 by George Skentzos
As manufacturers around the globe announce yearly sales at record lows for 2008 in the wake of the economic downturn, Toyota Australia has instead defied global trends to set an all-time industry sales record.
Despite vehicle sales seemingly grinding to halt, Toyota Australia managed to deliver 238,983 vehicles – 2336 more than its previous record set in the boom sales year of 2007.
This figure is also a staggering 108,645 vehicles ahead of its nearest Australian rival GM Holden – the first time ever the gap has exceeded 100,000.
The global financial crisis did little to interrupt sales in the second half of 2008 despite uncertain times, Toyota senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said the company and its vehicles had become increasingly relevant in Australia.
“Monthly average sales for Toyota in the second half were in excess of 18,590 compared with 19,900 for the year, indicating high levels of customer support.”
Toyota led the passenger-car, SUV and light-commercial vehicle categories, with both its Corolla and HiLux models becoming outright monthly market leaders for a cumulative four months.
The brand is set to launch several new models in 2009, and is in preparation for its 2010 launch of Australia’s first locally built hybrid car.
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Who said bland doesn’t sell? We need some fleet buyers to open their eyes to other possibilities besides Camry’s and Corollas.
A strong conservative market (Corolla) and mining boom (Hilux) certainly help.
However, whilst the local guys would be celebrating, globally this accounts for nil. Toyota Aus total sales are only about 2/3 of Toyota US sales DECLINE.
Aus sales: 240,000.
US sales decline from last year:355,000
Playing devils advocate here, please note that Toyota state they only “Delivered” these vehicles, I will chase further on rumours I heard in November and see whether they meant to say that or it was just a typo.
Interested to see how many down days the factory slips in this year.
Gifted, your accusing Toyota of riding the wave of sales success on the back of fleet sales, lol, the camry yes, I think the Corolla sits at about 45% fleet. Look a bit closer to home if you want to see the true GODS of fleet sales in this country.
Brett good point about US sales, Nissan and Honda look like losing 30% of sales in 2009 as well, GM and Ford, probably 40%, I guess your point is that in the US, all sellers are lambs to the slaughter :)
Frontman,
Lots of “demonstrator” runouts early this year then?
Max, Correct. The entire US market is in trouble. It was, however, Toyota and Honda that suffered the biggest slump in December, when things got really tight. 2009 will be interesting ……..
Bret, “trouble” is a very kind word to use!
Frontman said:
“Playing devils advocate here, please note that Toyota state they only “Delivered” these vehicles, ”
VFACTS is the source of the figures which is produced by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and this is a body independent of the manufacturers. The data is sourced from new vehicle registrations on a state by state basis.
Demonstrator and Company Fleet (ie: the Manufacturers fleet of Company Cars) vehicles are included in the figures as the units are physically registered with the relevant State authority (RTA, QLD Transport etc).
All manufacturers use this method to periodically inject some “life” into the figures, to suggest only “The big T” do it would be a little “one eyed” so to speak!
Rather than look for the negatives why not look for the positives in this, consumer confidence is obviously still running high and demand for vehicles is still there. It wasn’t just Toyota that had a good year either, the growth among some of the other manufacturers is most noteworthy. Skoda increased sales by 460.3% 08 vs 07! Nice!
The big mover is Mazda, still growing and now the number 4 ranked vehicle manufacturer in Australia with a predominantly retail market space. I doubt you’d find too many unhappy Mazda dealers around the country!
Max, I was being nice.
We will probaly see a 10-15% decline for Aus in 2009. The US is predicting up to 30% decline.
MD-88
Skoda’s totla volume was still only about 1000 units. Hardly worth the celebration. When you quote % figures it has to be based on a significant volume else it’s meaningless.
I would say the big movers are Volkswagon +11% and Suzuki +5%.
Look at it as a plus, People whinge and moan about recession however the sales say otherthings, People are alot more cautious and are buying things they know and trust.
MD-88, I wasn’t refering to demonstrators or fleet sales pumping up volumes. Most dealers do that to reach target. What I was refering to was some pretty strong “Rumours” that a certain car company that had not pulled it’s production back was asking it large contract fleets to take early deliveries, then pay when the original cantract was due. Have confirmed two cases so far. I am only looking into it to get an idea on what is most important to who.
Frontman, those un(?)confirmed rumours DO in fact include certain govt fleets.
One theory has it thats it’s cheaper to give cars to the fleet customers on a “take now, pay later” scheme than to pay storage costs on their massive oversupply.
Helps with achieving little “sales records” that can be later trotted out for advertising purposes as well!
Shows how gullible the great unwashed masses really are!
Not one class leading vehicle in their range to mention and they win the sales race.
Mediocre cars for mediocre people.
Have a chuckle everytime they run the lame Camry add that implies innovation and technological prowess.LOL.
Maybe more manufactures should aspire to be more like Toyota, its obvious they have the ingredients for success. Well done Toyota, lots of hard work and customer focus is needed to achieve and maintain the number one spot.
Yes Salesman it is the con job of the century. Hat off to their public relations and marketing people.Very good effort over the last decade has paid dividends.
The manufacture u work for is one of the real innovators in the market place. Without their challenge I doubt if Toyota would include most of the features they offer as standard and would still be offering superceeded models to our market as they once did.
Salesman, talk to your Toyota budies and see how many units they need to deliver to earn the same income you can with Kia…………….
Believe me, having been there and done that, being No 1 in volume means Jack when you are down Woolies trying to pay for groceries. Just pray that Kia doesn’t become like Toyota. Just think, you could delivery 350 cars to Hertz and not get you delivery comm for three months.
I like those signs that indicate a “free zone”.
Perhaps a Bull and T symbol with a stroke through it.Lol.
take 20000 HiLux/landcriuse models from that where the mines wont be buying next year caus of their monie problems
Just because they sell 200000+ cars dosent mean they make more profits then others
Sell 200,000 4 $1000 profit = 200m
Sell 100,000 4 $2000 profit = 200m
Sell 50,000 4 $4000 profit = 200m
etc
just what the high end car makes do sell less make more, anyone business minded will know their is no point sell more if your not making that much more profit.
Kia often use Toyota as the benchmark for the goals they want to achieve. You are correct Realcars, Hyundai – Kia is leaping forward and this year may well prove to be the most exciting yet. New Cerato and Sorento and the introduction of the two door Kia Coup and Kia Soul will keep traffic flow coming through the showrooms in 2009. I am looking forward to a big year.
Frontman,
I managed a Toyota yard for a year and know it is hard to make gross in fleet. But new fleet sales is not your only avenue of income, you also have retail, parts, service, F+I and the cars you trade end up on the used lot. High volume will equal strong profit if you are a smart operator.
Money,
Dealers would rather sell 200,000 cars for $1000.00 GPU.
that’s 200,000 sales that have trade ins, will come back for service and parts, need finance and insurance and bought after market.
You can see that volume = gross.
God I am seeing some shiity crappy clapped out smoking Camry’s on the roads lately……
Could these now be the choice of Bogans ?
>>>> OMG Anti Spam = Toyota
If u are desperate enough to buy a Camry then I suppose a quote from a movie would be a high light.LOL.
My gawd how silly do the front of those things look.
Kind of remind me of the peddle car I had when I was a kid.
About as fast too.LOL.
Bret and Realcars,
I just love seeing you too bogans squirm with envy!!
Quote “Somebody stop me” well is anyone going to shut Dingo up before he destroys another thread,how does this guy keep coming back when hes banned and has had legal warning to stay away!
Anyone know of any unused mine shafts near Dingos residence ? Ive got an ex-hubby that could join him……….hahaha
So lucky for Toyota Australia has been going through boom times unlike the rest of the world,lets see how the rest of the year goes for them, cut cuts cuts and more cuts ! Bigger they are harder they fall,and they are………
Bret and Realcars just report the tool! He hates his posts being deleted !
Hey Golfy how many aliases is he using on this thread ? My guess all the ones whom you have never heard of before !
I agree MD-88 Mazdas range is more extesnive and more appealing to customers than Toyota their cars are better looking not to mention more practivle and veratile..
I think that Mazda is the company Toyota should be woried about.
You can often tell if someoneis a scitzophrenic with split personalities and numerous alieases.. when you look at the way they write; structure their sentences; their grammar and the words they use etc.
You can often tell if someone is a scitzophrenic with split personalities etc.. when you look at the way they write; structure their sentences; their grammar and the words they use etc.
It’s sad that he has to use so many different aliases to try and back up his ignorant narrow minded opinions… beceause no one else agrees with him.
And if I am not mistaken he will reply to this comment with a personal attack or insult in his typically offensive manner.
A lot of bogans driving Camrys if u hadn’t noticed.LOL
So many other good cars out their like Mazda 6, Honda Accord etc etc and people by Camrys.
My gawd wake up and smell the roses.LOL.
exactly how is mazdas range more extensive… no people movers, no vans, no 6 cylinder cars, no 4×4 wagons(not SUVS), no small SUV. yes they have a convertible and a coupe(both low volume) but their range isnt anywhere near as big as toyota.
Ahh, more bogans squirming with envy!
Bavarian Missile and Wheelnut, please stop spamming these sites with your anti-personal nonsense!
Bavarian Missile, requesting death to dingo and your husband on a public forum is a serious matter!!!
Go polish ya Camry Jeremy!LOL.
Mazda sells only girly looking cars in Australia! Well, maybe not the BT-50, but it is still fugly!
hahaha ,where did I say death Dingo,once again you assume !
tick tick tick………..
Realcars, fix up your oil leak!!
Bavarian Missile, please explain “(.)(.)”?
Dont know about the rest of you but I love the new Mazda 6..its a hot car !
So will Toyota have to cut back on the free Cardy in all Camrys ? hahaha
How is a Camry and a V6 Camry not a chicks car ? Its made for blouses!
Why do people always convert figures to useless and blinding ones???
why have they compared 2nd half of the year figures to the whole of the year figures??
it should actually compare 2nd half with 1st half.
it should read 2nd half average of 18,590 compared to an average of 21,210 for the first half of the year. (thats the apples and apples way)
it paints a different picture.
Break it down into quarters and it becomes even more clear that the end of the year has slumped, even for toyota.
the record year spell was proped up by the start of the year.
People movers are also relatively low volime as well
As for not offering vans or full size 4×4s etc why would they when theos market sectors are already dominated by another manufacturer.. Unlike Toyota who are trying yto be everything to everyone and entering new markets; spending billions trying to take on/beat the established makes and models.
Unlike Toyota; Mazda are focussing on what they are good at that is building small-medium sized cars.. which when you look at the number of Mazda 2s 3s and 6s on the roads is probably the reason they have steadily made their way up the ladder and gained a reputation for better value for money etc.
The CX7 is also a much bertter looking car than the Kluger – it doesn’t roll over at medium speeds for a start
(.)(.),I thought that would have been a stamp you would have recognised Dingo,If you lift up the carpet on the passengers side of your Camry you will see some Australian worker in the Toyota factory has stamped in the floor pan as a joke ! Shows its a girls car !mmmmwwhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaa!
“She waits as he goes outside with his trusty flashlight and screw driver to see\”
i dont have a problem with what mazda does sell here, i like most of it, but they dont have a more extensive range, and until they do they wont outsell Toyota, or Holden, or probably even Ford.
In a number of reviews’ both here and overseas between the Camry and the New Mazda 6 – respected journalists have said that the Mazda6 surpasses the Camry – [which was once the benchmark for cars in its class] in virtually every area.. interior and exterior design; fit and finish; performance and handling etc
Mind you I’d like to know why would any one buy a new car that looks like its been used in one of the ANCrAP Crash Tests?
Tick, Tick, Tick the sound of worn lifters in a Camry?
Does Mazda still sell the MPV???
Dlr1,
true that,
You need your finger in many pies to become the number 1.
Toyota have multiple gfingers in each pie, its little surprise that they move the numbers
Dingo,
have you found the unevenly fitted tail lights on your Sportivo Camry yet???
VVRRRRRRRMMMMMMM
go the 4cyl camry sportivo!!!!
I know 2 people who have the same model as Dingo.
from another movie regarding the quality, it…..
QUOTE…….
“aint all that!!”
hahaha Realcars……..some thicker oil should help that!
or just turn the radio up.
the elderly are deaf anyway, i doubt they could hear the lifters, let alone know what they are
Bogan Envy!! Oh, what a felling!!
realcars Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
“Not one class leading vehicle in their range to mention and they win the sales race.”
Neither do Holden or Ford brainiac.
Actually the new Landcruiser is the best 4WD on the market – expensive yes, but the best nonetheless.
\”Mediocre cars for mediocre people.\”
Toyota executives would be happy their cars aren’t as aspirational as the bright green or purple SS commies for the masses in Mt Druitt, Dandenong, Cringila…
Wheelnut Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
“You can often tell if someone is a scitzophrenic with split personalities etc.. when you look at the way they write; structure their sentences; their grammar and the words they use etc.”
Once again you’ve astounded us with your intelligence – honestly mate, if I was your father I’d be an embarassed man…
Are you by chance Bavarian Missile? Good ploy that, trying to act like an immature teenie from a lower socio economic background.
Andrew M Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
\”Dingo,
have you found the unevenly fitted tail lights on your Sportivo Camry yet???
VVRRRRRRRMMMMMMM
go the 4cyl camry sportivo!!!!\”
Mate, what do you drive? If you say Commie or Falcon I’ll have a hearty laugh – you think those vehicles are pinnacles in engineering?
The cynic in me says the majority of those sales were ultimately to Australian financial institutions. I’d be surprised if those “sales” weren’t largely supporting australia’s ridiculously escalating credit crisis.
I’m Curious though, when was last time any sales people here on this blog sold a new car without some sort of finance?
Quote [Realcars] “Not one class leading vehicle in their range to mention and they win the sales race.”
[Realists reply] Neither do Holden or Ford brainiac.
Aahh the Commodore is the best selling in its class not to mention Australia….
Jeremy the DingBat, jealous of what? Toyota? It’s a company, not a person. Tool, you’re loosing the art of abuse.
Sad thing is Dingbat, I’ve probably owned more toyotas than you have.
Quote [Realist]: “Toyota executives would be happy their cars aren’t as aspirational as the bright green or purple SS commies for the masses in Mt Druitt, Dandenong, Cringila”
Aaahhh there are just as many people living in the more affluent or well off suburbs of Sydney melbourne Adelaide and Perth that either aspire to actually do own/drive a SS Commodore Ute or Sedan; XR8 Ute or Sedan; GT; GT-P or F6 Falcon; or even a Maloo; Clubsport or Statesman Caprice
Infact [and this might surprise you] there is more disposable income in thewestern suburbs of Sydney than there is on the North Shore.
Therefore; there are there are just as many if not more people from the more traditional “lower socio economic suburbs of Sydney who can afford to own/drive more luxuriois cars such as BMWs and Merc-Benzs ..
Just because you change suburb doesn’t mean that you have to change your car.
Dingo,
class leading ford vehicles include….
Falcon, Fiesta and the mondeo battles it out with the mazda 6 depending on which review you read as to which tops it…….
Realist,
i know no manufacturer is perfect,
i was just pointing out to those that think toyota is, that they arent
# Wheelnut Says:
January 7th, 2009 at 10:19 am
“Aahh the Commodore is the best selling in its class not to mention Australia….”
Oh, were you referring to sales? The Landcruiser, Camry and Corolla come to mind.
# Wheelnut Says:
January 7th, 2009 at 10:56 am
“Aaahhh there are just as many people living in the more affluent or well off suburbs of Sydney melbourne Adelaide and Perth that either aspire to actually do own/drive a SS Commodore Ute or Sedan; XR8 Ute or Sedan; GT; GT-P or F6 Falcon; or even a Maloo; Clubsport or Statesman Caprice”
Was this research conducted by the same morons who work in GMH business development? Or by you in your free time when you’re not posting here?
I don’t think you understand the meaning of the word aspire…
“Infact [and this might surprise you] there is more disposable income in thewestern suburbs of Sydney than there is on the North Shore.
Therefore; there are there are just as many if not more people from the more traditional “lower socio economic suburbs of Sydney who can afford to own/drive more luxuriois cars such as BMWs and Merc-Benzs ..
Just because you change suburb doesn’t mean that you have to change your car.”
I am lost for words at your knowledge and insight. Truly. When you get correct facts I might even agree with you.