December highlights include hybrids, Toyota trucks, and Lexus cars (TORONTO) – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today announced it set a new record for annual vehicle sales breaking the 200,000 mark for the first time ever; plus, TCI achieved new December sales records across both Toyota and Lexus divisions. Hybrid sales played a key role. For the first time ever, TCI has sold more than 10,000 hybrid vehicles in a single year, almost doubling the hybrid sales of 2006.

TCI sold 15,088 vehicles in December, up 23.8 per cent compared to December 2006. As a result, TCI finished 2007 with a best year ever for annual sales at 201,326, which is 2.8 per cent above annual sales the previous year.

Canadians purchased 13,865 Toyota vehicles in December, up 24.6 per cent from the same month in 2006 to set a new December Toyota sales record. Toyota sales for all of 2007 reached 187,938, up 2.3 per cent over 2006 to set a new annual Toyota sales record.

Toyota sold 6,756 passenger cars in December, down 9.3 per cent from the same month in 2006. Annual car sales of 128,820 were off 4.4 per cent compared to 2006.

Toyota truck sales of 7,109 were up 93 per cent compared to the same month in 2006, to set a new monthly record. Annual truck sales of 59,118 are up 20.7 per cent versus 2006 to set a new annual Toyota sales record.

Canadians purchased 1,223 Lexus luxury cars and SUVs in December, up 15.6 per cent from the same month in 2006 to set a new December Lexus sales record. Lexus sales for all of 2007 reached 13,388, up 11.6 per cent compared to 2006 to set a new annual Lexus sales record. This represents seven consecutive years of annual sales records for Lexus in Canada.

Lexus sold 633 luxury passenger cars in December 2007, down 0.5 per cent compared to December 2006. Lexus passenger car sales for all of 2007 are ahead of last year by 21.3 per cent, at 8,336 to set a new annual Lexus sales record.

Lexus sold 590 luxury SUVs in December, up 39.8 per cent from December 2006 to set a new monthly sales record. Total Lexus SUV sales in 2007 were 5,052, off 1.5 per cent compared to 2006.

“We would like to thank our many loyal Canadian customers for 2007’s sales results after they welcomed the many new vehicles we introduced this past year, such as: the all-new Toyota Highlander and Toyota Tundra. December’s record-breaking results give us great momentum into 2008 with the much-anticipated all-new Canadian-built Toyota Corolla and Matrix,” said Tony Wearing, Managing Director of TCI. “Cracking the 200,000 sales mark for 2007 is an important milestone in Toyota Canada’s history,” Wearing continued. “This is significant to note since we worked for 30 years to break the 100,000 sales mark in 1997, but we were able to double this in just 10 years.”

“Lexus of Canada had a remarkable year with the introduction of the LS 600h L prestige hybrid sedan to complete our luxury car offerings, and we are grateful that our Canadian guests have helped us achieve another record sales year,” noted Yves Gionet, Director of Lexus in Canada. “We established a new annual sales record in November, and December’s results continued this pace. With the all-new LX 570 full-size luxury SUV and the performance-based IS-F on the way soon, we are looking forward to 2008 and continuing to satisfy those Canadians shopping for a luxury vehicle and the exquisite customer relationship that has become synonymous with Lexus.”

December sales highlights:

TCI sold 10,082 Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles in 2007, representing 5.0 per cent of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold. Toyota’s hybrid ambassador, the Prius, set a new monthly record with 463 units sold. That’s up 137 per cent versus December 2006, to establish the best-ever sales year for the Prius at 2,585 models in 2007.

December sales of the Toyota Camry Hybrid mid-size sedan jumped 57.2 per cent compared to the same month in 2006, to reach a new December record of 456. Toyota sold 5,802 hybrid versions of the Camry in 2007 to set a new annual record. 21 per cent of Camry vehicles sold in 2007 were hybrid models.

Canadian drivers snapped up 780 Toyota Yaris with a Trunk models in December to set a new monthly record for the model. All told, Canadians purchased 16,759 new Yaris with a Trunk subcompacts in 2007 to set an annual sales record.

Toyota pick-up trucks reached unprecedented December and year to date sales results in 2007 thanks to the all-new Never Quit Toyota Tundra introduced in early 2007. Toyota sold 1,712 Tundra pick-ups in December to set new monthly and annual records. December sales showed a 751 per cent increase in sales over the same time last year. 2007 sales of Tundra reached 11,552, up 350 per cent compared to 2006.

With the introduction of an all-new model in 2008, the Toyota Highlander enjoyed its best-ever month of sales, with 1,551 models sold in December to bring 2007’s sales to 4,466. The new Toyota Highlander Hybrid also established a new monthly sales record, with 159 units sold to reach 586 units in 2007.

In 2007, Lexus guests purchased 1109 hybrid vehicles representing 8.2 per cent of all Lexus sales for this year. The RX 400h was a strong contributor with 909 models sold in 2007. That’s ahead 17.3 per cent 4 compared to 2006 and establishes a new annual record for this model. Plus, 20 per cent of all RX models sold in 2007 were hybrid versions.

At Lexus of Canada, guests continue to choose the Lexus ES 350. Sales of 377 ES 350 entry luxury passenger cars in December were up 19.3 per cent compared to December 2006 to set a new monthly record. The ES series also enjoyed its best ever year, with sales of 4,251 models in 2007 up 37 per cent versus 2006.

The Lexus IS series luxury sport sedan enjoyed its best-ever year, with 2,792 models sold in 2007. That’s up 2.9 per cent compared to 2006 sales.

Canadians purchased 482 RX 350 luxury SUVs in December, up 44.7 percent versus December 2006 to set a new December record.