No more Toyota Rukus for Australia

TOYOTA Australia has confirmed the boxy Rukus hatchback will be discontinued “in line with customer demand”, with production for this market ceasing from next month.

With just 122 registered to the end of August, a 26.5 per cent slide compared with the same period in 2014, the Rukus is by far Toyota Australia’s slowest-selling passenger car and its least popular model overall.

Since its May 2010 launch, 3867 Rukuses have been sold in Australia. For comparison, Toyota regularly shifts more than 3000 Corollas per month here.

But Toyota Australia product public relations manager Steve Coughlan told GoAuto there had been benefits to introducing the Rukus to this market.

“A large number of these sales were to people who had never previously considered a Toyota,” he said.

“Rukus succeeded in bringing new buyers to the Toyota brand - and our dealers report that many of those people have now progressed to other vehicles in our range, such as RAV4 and Corolla.

“In a similar fashion to the FJ Cruiser and the Toyota 86 sportscar, the Rukus has been successful in appealing to a different type of buyer.”

Mr Coughlan said remaining Australian stock of the Rukus is expected to dry up “within the coming months”.