Toyota set to smash hybrid sales record

TOYOTA is on track to smash its sales record for petrol-electric vehicle sales in Australia, with the market-leading brand set to achieve more than double its annual sales figures of recent years.

Speaking to journalists at the launch of the all-new Corolla sedan and updated C-HR last week, Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said reports citing poor take-up of electrified vehicles in Australia were overblown.

“I have to say I do get a little frustrated when I read headlines suggesting there’s a poor take-up of alternative-powertrain vehicles in Australia,” he said.

“And I say that because right now, the best way to cut fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is to buy a hybrid electric vehicle. Australian motorists are responding to this fact.

“As a result, our hybrid electric sales are prospering like never before. This year, I expect we’ll sell around 25,000 hybrid vehicles, and that will indeed smash previous records.”

Recording 25,000 electrified vehicle sales in a year would be a huge step up over its previous annual records, with the Japanese car-maker chalking up 11,590 hybrid sales in 2018, and 8433 in 2017, meaning this year’s tally would eclipse the last two years combined.

The main stimulus for the sales growth has been an increase in choice, with new hybrid variants launching across a number of Toyota’s passenger car and SUV model lines.

Last week marked the launch of the Corolla sedan and C-HR which offer hybrid power for the first time, joining Camry, RAV4, Corolla hatch, Prius, Prius C and Prius V.

Mr Hanley said the Corolla hatch, Camry and RAV4 have been the main sales drivers, and added that the company’s hybrid sales would be even better with an unfettered supply.

“Monthly sales of Corolla hatch are currently running at more than one third of total sales, and we’re expecting the same for the sedan,” he said.

“Demand is even stronger for RAV4, and hybrid is responsible for more than 50 per cent of Camry sales last month.

“Our order bank tells us these figures will only get stronger in the future; if we had free supply, I have no doubt we would be selling even more.”

Mr Hanley added that with the increased success of hybrid sales, TMCA expects 20 per cent of its overall sales volume in 2020 will be made up of hybrids.

In recent years, Toyota Australia has recorded annual sales north of 200,000 units, meaning in 2020 the company plans to sell at least 40,000 hybrids.

“At some point next year, I remain confident that hybrid electric will reach 20 per cent of Toyota’s total monthly sales – 20 per cent in 2020,” he said.

“I do like the sound of 20 per cent of course, because when you look at our overall market share, that is also heading towards the 20 per cent mark.”

Toyota launched its first hybrid offering, the Prius, in October 2001, and according to the brand, is the only car-maker to have continuously offered an alternative-powertrain model since that time.

The company plans to offer alternative propulsion on all of its models in the future, with the new-generation Yaris due next year to be offered with a hybrid powertrain in Australia for the first time, while the popular Kluger large SUV could also be a contender for a hybrid, with Lexus offering a hybrid V6 in its mechanically related RX.