Toyota has announced strong growth performance in the Gulf region, selling 158,223 units in Q1 2013, which resulted in the brand further consolidating its leadership with a 39.6 percent market share.

In achieving this performance, Toyota registered a 23 percent increase in sales as compared to the same period in Q1 2012.

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

Nobuyuki Negishi, chief representative of Middle East and North Africa 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.”

Negishi said: “Toyota’s emphasis on developing exciting new design and product innovations for our vehicles is also having a favorable 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.

Toyota PRADO sold 18,443 units to post a 56 percent growth in unit sales y-o-y, while the new look RAV4 sold 3,057 units for a 51 percent increase in sales during the same period.

In terms of sedans, the new Toyota Avalon received tremendous response from customers in the region recording sales of 3,998 units to register a 58 percent increase while the Yaris also recorded an impressive sales growth with 9,221 units to record a 56 percent increase in sales.

In terms of new launches in 2013, Toyota introduced the 2013 Avalon in the GCC market in Q1 signaling the entry of a world class sedan with a unique combination of more emotional styling, improved dynamic performance, and greater refinement.

Toyota also launched the 2013 RAV4 which is a bold reinvention of the world’s original crossover sport utility vehicle offering customers sophisticated and strong styling, refined, premium-quality interior design and a new Dynamic Torque Control 4WD, in addition to a more engaging and fun drive with fuel efficient power train.