Toyota Is the Top-Selling Non-National Brand In Malaysia

UMW Toyota Motor, the carmaker’s Malaysian subsidiary, has announced it is still the top non-national automaker by sales volume in the country, keeping its title for the 21st consecutive year. A total of 92,000 vehicles were shifted last year, representing a 12 percent increase compared to the 82,000 units in 2009.

More than 15 percent of the cars sold in Malaysia last year sported Toyota or Lexus badges. Th Vios was the model that topped sales charts, with 33,700 units. The model received a facelift last year and is basically the sedan version of the Toyota Yaris - in fact, in other countries, the duo has been called the Yaris hatch and sedan or the Belta hatch and sedan. Over here in Malaysia it uses the Vios name, in line with Toyota’s marketing plans for the region.

Coming in second and third place are the Hilux with 18,600 units and the Camry with approximately 11,500 units. The Lexus luxury division only contributed 430 sales to last year’s total, but a substantial increase was noted from 2009’s 300 units shifted.

UMW Toyota Motor’s facility in Shah Alam produced a total of 69,000 units in 2010, the highest number since assembly began in 1968. The Vios, Hilux, Fortuner and Innova are all produced there, and should be joined by the new generation Camry in 2012.

The company’s president, Ismet Suki, said he plans to launch new models this year and among the vehicles expected within the first quarter is the Lexus Hybrid model CT 200h. “Among the new dealerships and facilities set to be launched are the new Lexus showroom in Johor Bahru, which started operations yesterday; a showroom in the Klang Valley by year-end; and a new Toyota 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre in Ipoh,” he added.