Hybrids, new Aygo and low-CO2 RAV4 figure strongly in Toyota’s September sales growth. Britain’s drivers are switching on to hybrid in increasing numbers, with sales results for September and the first three quarters of 2014 showing Toyota’s technology attracting an ever greater proportion of customers. Figures released recently by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders confirm that retail and business/fleet customers are recognising the real-world cost, performance and reliability benefits of hybrid and responding to Toyota’s unmatched choice of models.
The British-built Auris Hybrid hatchback and Touring Sports wagon remain the cornerstone of this success. Auris sales so far this year have leapt forward by more than 20%, with hybrids accounting for almost half the total. In the supermini market, one in four of all UK Yaris sales is a hybrid. As a result, hybrid has accounted for 22.5% of all Toyota sales to date in 2014.
The impact of hybrid is most marked in Toyota’s fleet sales performance, where volumes up to the end of September are almost 20 per cent up on the same period last year. Overall, Toyota sales have risen by 4.5%.
New Aygo has arrived with bang, helping hike sales for the city car by almost 20% in September compared to the same month in 2013, and by more than 15% across the board. RAV4 sales have also accelerated up 80% in fleet, 15 per cent overall, thanks in great part to the introduction of the new low CO2 2.0 D-4D two-wheel drive model.
