Toyota Motor Europe (TME) reported its annual sales for calendar year 2015 today, and despite the lowest petrol prices in 5 years, its sales of hybrid vehicles have continued their 5-year increase to reach 209,000 units, up 17% year-on-year. Sales of Toyota and Lexus-branded hybrid vehicles now represent 24% of the group’s sales on the continent, up from 20% a year ago. In Western Europe only, sales of hybrid represent a third of total sales.
Within those hybrid sales, the Yaris hybrid recorded sales of 72,000 in 2015, up 23% versus last year, proving that hybrid technology is accessible even on a B-segment vehicle. More than one in three Yaris sold in Europe is a hybrid. The new Auris hybrid also did extremely well with an increase of 12% year-on-year at 78,500 sales. More than half of all Auris sold by Toyota are hybrid. For the Lexus premium brand, hybrid sales increased by 24% to reach 41,000 units. Lexus Hybrid Drive vehicles make up 64% of total Lexus sales across the continent, and reach 96% of sales in Western Europe alone.
Overall sales of Toyota and Lexus vehicles reached 874,000 units in 2015 (-1.5%)
TME’s sales results reflect two trends last year:
- sustained growth in Western Europe (+7%) and Central Europe (+18%).
- a decline in sales in Eastern Europe (Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the Caucasus region) in line with the very strong market decline (-36%)
The group’s overall market share stood at 4.6%. Sales of European produced Toyota vehicles increased by 27,000 units (+5%) and now represent 71% of the total sales (+6% points versus last year)
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The new AYGO reached 89,000 sales, a 26% increase year-on-year, continuing to perform strongly in its second year post launch. The newly redesigned Yaris increased sales by 11% to 201,000 units. The new Auris and Avensis, both updated in 2015, have been well received, with 142,000 sales for Auris (stable in a declining segment) and 35,000 sales for Avensis (+17%), with both models’ new interior and exterior designs, and powertrain enhancements earning high praise.
Lexus has achieved its best-ever sales in Europe in 2015. Sales increased by 20% year-on-year to reach nearly 64,000 units. Lexus sales increased in Western Europe by 31%, in Central Europe by 50% and by 1% in Eastern Europe, despite the challenging environment. The market share in those respective regions increased to 1.2% (+0.2% points increase) in Western Europe, 3.6% (+0.8% points) in Central Europe and a record 12.2% (+3% points increase) in Eastern Europe versus last year.
