Official figures show Toyota dealers have delivered 141,300 sales in the eight months to the end of August.
The monthly average of more than 17,660 vehicles puts the 150,000 milestone well within range for September, as well as pointing to a full-year total of well over 200,000 sales.
Toyota’s evergreen Corolla is Australia’s best-selling vehicle in 2013 with customers buying almost 28,600 sedans and hatches – a monthly average of more than 3570 cars.
Corolla is supported by HiLux in third place, and a top-10 performance from the Australian-built petrol and hybrid Camry.
Toyota’s sales lead this year has grown to more than 69,000 over its nearest rival – an increase of more than 5% compared with the same period in 2012.
During August, Australian motorists bought 17,762 Toyota vehicles – a total that was more than two-third higher than any other manufacturer.
Highlights for the month included Corolla with an above-average 3682 sales, new-generation RAV4 with an August record of 1780 deliveries, and the 86 sports car with a segment-leading total of 752.
Other segment leaders for Toyota were Camry, LandCruiser Prado, LandCruiser 200, HiLux 4×2, HiLux 4×4, HiAce bus and HiAce van.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb says the strong August sales result masked an underlying reduction in new orders from key customers, particularly fleets.
“There was further evidence in August of customers putting orders on ice ahead of the federal elections, due to the cloud over the potential FBT arrangements,” says Cramb.
“At the same time – with eight months of sales already in the bank – the industry is headed for a strong result in excess of one million sales this year,” he says.
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