(TORONTO) - Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today announced record sales for the month of June. Bolstered by record-setting June and first-half performances from both the Toyota and Lexus brands, TCI is also posting a record pace for the first half of the year. Highlights include:

• Record TCI June sales of 16,774, up 2.0 per cent over last June, leading to record first-half sales of 88,182 units, up 2.8 per cent.
• Record Toyota brand sales of 15,888, up 0.7 per cent compared to last June, resulting in 83,387 sales for the year, for an overall increase of 2.1 per cent.
• Toyota car sales of 12,349 are up 0.4 per cent, setting a new record for June.
• Toyota truck sales of 3,539 are ahead of last year by 1.5 per cent.
• Record Lexus brand sales of 886, up 35.1 per cent over last June, contributing to a first-half record of 4,795 units, up 18.6 per cent for the year.
• Lexus car sales set a new June record of 392 units, for a phenomenal increase of 52.5 per cent over last year.
• Lexus truck sales set a new June record of 494 units, outselling last June by 23.8 per cent.

"Customer demand for vehicles manufactured in North America, including the Canadian-built Matrix, has contributed significantly to Toyota Canada's outstanding performance this year," said Tony Wearing, Managing Director of TCI. "This strong demand bodes well for the future of the RAV4 SUV which, already boasting strong June sales, will be made in Toyota's recently announced Woodstock, Ontario plant starting in 2008."

"The popularity of the all-new GS sport sedans and RX 400h luxury hybrid SUV has boosted Lexus to new June and first-half records," said Stuart Payne, Director of Lexus in Canada. "We expect the momentum for Lexus to continue through the end of the year, with the fall launch of the new IS sport sedans."

Sales highlights for June include:

• Best June ever for the Canadian-built Matrix, with sales of 2,433
  units, up 18.7 per cent over last June.
• Best June ever for Echo Hatchback, with sales of 1,889 units, up
  7.1 per cent compared to last year.
• Camry sales of 1,766 units are 16.8 per cent ahead of last June.
• Sales of 178 Avalon premium intermediate sedans are up significantly over last year.
• Total Tacoma pickup truck sales of 652 are ahead of last year by 187.2 per cent.
• RAV4 sales of 554 units represent a 5.9 per cent increase over last June.
• New June record for Lexus ES luxury sedan, with sales of 250 units, up by 62.3 per cent.
• Best June ever for the all-new Lexus GS luxury sport sedans, with combined sales of 81 units.
• Total sales of Lexus RX SUVs reach 431 units for a new June record, up 32.6 per cent over last year.