Toyota sold 158,223 units in the GCC in the first quarter of the year, marking a 23 per cent increase in sales as compared to the same period in 2012 as well as a 39.6 per cent market share.

This first quarter growth in the GCC follows the record sales performance of Toyota last year when over 593,000 units were sold, a company statement said.

Nobuyuki Negishi, chief representative of Mena Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “With our strong lineup of products backed by our acclaimed after sales service, our impressive sales growth in the first quarter  continues the strong momentum in sales at the close of 2012.”

“Toyota’s emphasis on developing exciting new design and product innovations for our vehicles is also having a favourable impact on customers.

“With the confidence of our expanding customer base in Toyota’s reliability and product quality and their implicit trust in our brand, I look forward to partnering with our dealers and our staff across the region to continue Toyota’s success story.”

Toyota’s SUV product range did exceptionally well in Q1 reflecting the demand for this category of vehicles among consumers in the GCC.

In the SUV range, Toyota Prado sold 18,443 units to post a 56 per cent growth in unit sales year-on-year, while the new look Rav4 sold 3,057 units for a 51 per cent increase in sales in the first quarter of 2013.

In terms of sedans, the new Toyota Avalon recorded sales of 3,998 units in the region to register a 58 per cent increase while the Yaris saw a sales growth with 9,221 units to record a 56 per cent increase.

In terms of new launches in 2013, Toyota introduced the 2013 Avalon in the GCC market in the first quarter.

Toyota also launched the 2013 Rav4, a crossover sport utility vehicle offering a new Dynamic Torque Control 4-wheel-drive. – TradeArabia News Service