Toyota has been on top of the sales charts for 20 years in a row, but last year it achieved its strongest result in 14 years – according to full-year VFACTS industry data.

    The Japanese carmaker sold a total of 231,050 cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles locally during 2022, lifting sales by 3.3 per cent. One in five new vehicles delivered last year was a Toyota.

    This is despite widely-reported supply chain issues and production cuts, leading to a huge order bank for vehicles such as RAV4, Camry and LandCruiser. In fact, Toyota claims demand for its cars is at a record high.

    Toyotas were the best-selling models in nine market segments last year. This includes Corolla (small cars), Camry (medium cars), RAV4 (medium SUVs), Prado (large SUVs), LandCruiser wagon (upper large SUVs), HiAce (light buses and vans), and HiLux (4×2 and 4×4 utes).

    HiLux has now been the top-selling vehicle for seven years in a row, with a total of 64,391 delivered last year. This figure is the highest annual total for any vehicle in Australia since 2005.

    In addition it was the 10th consecutive year the Corolla has been the top-selling passenger car, the 29th consecutive year the Camry has been on top of the medium car segment, the third year in a row the RAV4 has been the hottest-selling medium SUV, and the second year in a row the LandCruiser Prado achieved record sales.

    The carmaker achieved a new record for hybrid vehicles too, selling a total of 72,815 petrol-electric models. This is 31.5 per cent of all Toyota vehicles delivered in 2022. If Toyota hybrids were a separate franchise, it would rank sixth in the market.

    The RAV4 was Australia’s best-selling hybrid with 26,547 sales, representing 76.2 per cent of the model’s sales.

    “We are extremely grateful – and humbled – to report that our order bank remains very strong due to the trust placed in our brand and our vehicle line-up by so many Australian companies and individuals,” said Toyota vice president sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley.

    “While it remains difficult to make predictions in this evolving supply situation, we can assure you that we will be working harder than ever to deliver more than 200,000 vehicles to our customers yet again in 2023.”

    “We recognise that Toyota is extremely fortunate that well-recognised nameplates like HiLux, Corolla and LandCruiser – all of which have more than half a century of heritage and success in Australia – continue to deliver on the unique motoring needs and requirements of diverse buyers across the country,” he added.

    “We are also energised by the knowledge that electrification through our hybrid technology continues to lead the industry in supporting our customers with practical and affordable ways of substantially reducing their emissions today, and every day.”

    During 2023 Toyota plans to launch its first all-electric vehicle, the bZ4X, as well as the GR Corolla hot hatchback, and the turbocharged four-cylinder Kluger. It also plans to reveal a flagship HiLux GR Sport variant in the second half of 2023.

    Customer wait times will remain due to the extensive order bank. Worst affected cars from wait list perspective remain RAV4 hybrid (12-18m waits), Camry Hybrid (same), and LandCruiser 300 (12-18m). LandCruiser 70 stop-sale continues until at least Q3 of 2023.

    MORE: Toyota leads Volkswagen by a million sales already in 2022
    MORE: Toyota Australia’s hybrid sales grow exponentially, have eclipsed 200,000

    Jack Quick

    Jack Quick is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne. Jack studied journalism and photography at Deakin University in Burwood, and previously represented the university in dance nationally. In his spare time, he loves to pump Charli XCX and play a bit of Grand Theft Auto. He’s also the proud owner of a blue, manual 2020 Suzuki Jimny.

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