General News
17 September, 2024
RAV4 dominance continues
Continuing to enjoy a dream run in the Australian marketplace, the Toyota RAV4 has achieved its highest monthly sales in the model’s 30-year history, making it the nation's best-selling vehicle in August.
A total of 6712 examples of the popular mid-size SUV were delivered to domestic customers last month, of which almost 95 per cent were hybrids.
The RAV4 total in August was dominated by the sale of 6342 hybrids – a tally that would have enabled the petrol-electric variants to top the sales chart in their own right.
RAV4 was the biggest contributor to Toyota’s market-leading August total of 21,490 vehicles, which translates into a market share of 21.9 per cent.
It is the third time RAV4 has been Australia’s best-selling vehicle this year and the fifth time overall.
August was the sixth consecutive monthly record for the RAV4 and the first time the model exceeded 6000 sales in a month.
The previous record of 5933 deliveries was set in July 2024.
The only Toyota vehicle that has posted a higher monthly total is HiLux, with 7582 vehicles in June 2022.
Well over half (55.5 per cent) of Toyota’s August total – or 11,931 vehicles – were equipped with hybrid-electric powertrains.
August was the third time Toyota’s hybrids had exceeded 10,000 deliveries in a month.
It was also the third time in four months that more than half of the Japanese manufacturer's sales in Australia were hybrid.
Toyota has now sold a record 81,378 hybrid vehicles to Australian customers this year, representing 49.2 per cent of the company’s total deliveries.
Toyota has posted more than 20,000 sales in each of the past five months, lifting its eight-month total to 165,496 units, averaging more than 20,000 deliveries a month.
The eight-month total is 31,749 vehicles – 23.7 per cent higher than the 133,747 sold in the same period last year.
Toyota’s vice-president of sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley said the results provided further evidence of the enduring appeal of hybrid technology in the Australian market.
“Our strategy is all about offering choice to meet the needs and desire of all Australian customers, leaving no-one behind,” Mr Hanley said.
“This includes our extensive hybrid range headlined by the addition of a new Camry; the space, style and comfort of our SUVs; and the ability to tow heavy loads and get off the beaten track in one of our four-wheel drives.
“Right vehicle. Right place. Right time.”