In 2013 Toyota managed to sell more vehicles than any automaker in the world – maintaining its title as the worlds largest automaker title after sales of about 9.98 million cars.

The Japanese automaker reclaimed it the title from General Motors back in 2012 with sales of 9.75 million, beating GM’s global sales by 451000 units. While in 2013 it was able to increase the sales figure by two percent to 9.98 million units, which include sales of Lexus and Scion models, as well as Daihatsu and Hino trucks.

GM’s sales rose by four percent as it delivered 9.71 million cars, and were followed by Volkswagen which sold 9.7 million units and won’t provide detailed results until March 13.

Toyota originally estimated it would sell more than 10 million cars in 2013, but now the brand predicts 2014 will be the year that will breach the 10-million milestone, making them the first automaker to ever accomplish this.

Setting records in South Africa

Toyota also ended 2013 as South Africa’s best-selling brand, selling a total of 9881 vehicles in December and delivering 126749 Toyota, Lexus and Hino vehicles to customers throughout the year, representing a total of 19.5% of the overall market.

According to Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, the industry expected a more significant increase in sales, based on the low interest rate environment, the delayed replacement cycle of vehicles after sales peaked in 2006, extremely high levels of new vehicle introductions and retail marketing.

He went on to say that the increase in living costs, spearheaded by the increasing fuel prices and Gauteng toll roads, had a greater influence on the type of vehicle sold, than the overall sales figures.

Of the models that performed well in December was the Hilux, the best-selling vehicle in South Africa at 2659 sales, the Quantum and Ses’fikile taxi at 1041 units and the Fortuner with 849 units sold.

In the entry level segment, the Etios did relatively well and recorded sales of over 1865 units, while the current Corolla retailed over 1077 units in the same month.

“It is the first time in 7 years that we have broken through the 30 000 mark in the medium, heavy and extra heavy commercial vehicle market,” says Hamman.

“We will keep an eye on commercial vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2014 to better understand if the market will stabilise at these numbers, as some analysts believe, or if the market will grow at the same tempo as the country’s gross domestic product growth, as others predict.”

“On the positive side we expect a strong performance from the new Corolla, South Africa’s favourite sedan, and by a number of new vehicle introductions.”