Full supply chain adds horsepower to Toyota sales revival

MEDIA RELEASE 7 September 2011

Full supply chain adds horsepower to Toyota New Zealand sales revival

Another Toyota car carrier reached New Zealand this week with a boatload of new vehicles signaling business is back to normal for Toyota New Zealand, helped by capacity production at the global car giant's factories.

Thanks to two full Toyofuji ships docking each month, Toyota New Zealand - which has led the combined passenger and commercial market for an unprecedented 23 years - is once again able to offer customers a full range of models and colours.

Steve Prangnell, general manager Sales and Operations, says the return to full supply means Toyota dealers are able to meet burgeoning demand from loyal customers who continue to place their trust in the brand.

"We're excited to be fully back in business, it's as simple as that. The supply shortages following the earthquake tragedy in Japan are well and truly behind us now."

"To thank our customers who have stuck by Toyota and waited for the full range to be available, we have decided to announce a fantastic retail promotion with four great offers on new vehicles running until the end of the year"

Until 31 December, new vehicle customers can leave the showroom with a choice of holiday packages, a King Tony tool kit, three years' free servicing, or $2,000 of accessories as well as a new Toyota.

Mr Prangnell says production has returned to normal in Japan and Toyota's other international manufacturing locations, which were all affected to some degree after the disaster - mainly by the lack of crucial components.

"Having production at full steam, and actually above full capacity in some instances, with plants doing extra shifts, means Toyota is globally on track and able to meet customer demand."

Toyota had a strong August sales month. Its overall market share in August was 17.0 per cent, nearly 3 percentage points higher than it was in May, when passenger sales were affected by shortages.

A temporary dip in passenger sales position share, from first in April,to sixth in May, has been followed by Toyota's rapid recovery of market share to second in June, first in July and now first in August. Toyota's clear lead in passenger sales volume year to date is now about 2,400 vehicles.

"Alongside our lead in the passenger segment, August saw us continue our total domination of the commercial market. We extended our overall market lead, and are on target to finish the year as the clear triple-crown winner again."

Mr Prangnell says Toyota's overall market leadership in 2011 is likely to be slightly reduced in comparison to the 2010 year-end data. The vehicle market is about 8 per cent up on 2010 so far, and Toyota is forecasting the vehicle market in New Zealand to continue this resurgence in 2012 off the back of continued economic recovery.

"Obviously no-one could have predicted the global vehicle market turmoil which resulted following the tragic events in Japan. But the strength of the Toyota brand among consumers in New Zealand has enabled us to cope pretty well with the stock shortages in May June and July, and head for the final quarter of the year in really good heart with market leadership firmly in our sights."

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