Toyota focuses on greener offerings
Toyota New Zealand (TNZ) is vowing to further cut emissions from its vehicles and introduce more hybrids during 2020.
Neeraj Lala, TNZ’s chief operating officer, made the pledge as the company celebrated extending its reign at the top of the nation’s vehicle market to 32 years.
Toyota had a 20.1 per cent share of the overall vehicle market in 2019 after a “strong year” in “challenging conditions”.
It is now focusing on making better data-driven business decisions, improving customer retention and growing its hybrid range in the next 12 months.
With the addition of the next generation RAV4 last year, Toyota now offers seven hybrid cars and SUVs, with more to come in 2020. The carmaker says it is on track to meet its target of hybrid electric new vehicle sales to be 30 per cent of total Toyota and Lexus sales by the end of this year.
“The addition of more hybrids to our range has reduced our average carbon emissions across the range for new Toyota vehicles by 9.5 per cent,” Lala, pictured, says.
“We have a key role to play as we move towards a low emissions economy as a country. In 2020 we will add more hybrids to our range to continue to decrease our carbon impact.”
Lala adds that TNZ made a “deliberate strategic decision” to refocus on its channel share, with a push to gain more private buyer share.
“We have seen this increase with RAV4 and Corolla consistently in the top 10 vehicles sold during the year,” he says. “Increasingly, customers are seeking fuel-efficient, low-emitting passenger vehicles and the 2019 RAV4 hybrid is ticking many boxes for new vehicle buyers.”
In 2019, Toyota introduced five new models: the RAV4, Hiace, GR Supra, Corolla sedan and Corolla wagon. Of the 31,026 passenger and light commercial vehicles sold by Toyota in 2019, Hilux accounted for 7,126.
“While we, as an industry and manufacturer, did not break 2018’s record sales, 2019 was a strong year for us,” Lala says.
“We are looking forward to a successful 2020 as the domestic economic fundamentals are positive and we have a number of new vehicles on their way, including the updated Hilux, new Yaris and hybrid C-HR.”
