Canada puts smiles on Toyota faces

Toyota likely wishes its Canadian sales trends were universal -- then it wouldn't be recording its first worldwide loss since its formation.
Toyota Canada achieved its best-ever sales year in 2008: Canadians drove away in 224,158 Toyota and Lexus vehicles -- up 11.3 per cent from 2007, setting a second straight year of sales more than 200,000.

Toyota sales of 209,157 were up 11.3 per cent from 2007 and represent the first time the Toyota brand has sold more than 200,000 vehicles here in a single year, while also exceeding 2007 combined Lexus and Toyota sales of 201,326. Lexus sales of 15,001 vehicles were up 12 per cent versus 2007.

Among these sales numbers are some solid cars-made-in-Canada successes: 57,736 Toyota Corollas, up 42.6 per cent; 23,549 Toyota Matrix models, up 10.2 per cent; 20,522 Toyota RAV4s, up 25.7 per cent, and 4,841 Lexus RX 350s, up 28.9 per cent.

Hybrid sales were dramatic: 4,458 Toyota Prius liftbacks sold, up 72.5 per cent.

But that pales in comparison with the sale of 1,523 Toyota Highlander Hybrid crossovers, an amazing 159.9-per-cent rise, and 1,380 Lexus RX 400h luxury hybrid crossovers, up 51.8 per cent.

Source: The Province