TME has posted its first quarter sales result of 225,152 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe, up 14% from the same period in 2013. TME’s European market share in the first three months of the year stands at 4.9%, up 0.4 percentage points from the same period last year. Hybrid models accounted for 21% of all vehicles sold by TME between January and March.

Daniele Schillaci, senior vice-president for TME sales and marketing, said: ‘We started 2014 very strongly with our European market share climbing closer to the 5% mark. Our growth doubled that of the market trend, demonstrating that our products are striking the right note with customers, and there’s more yet to come. Our fun-loving AYGO will excite customers when it hits the showrooms in the summer.’

During the first three months, Toyota branded vehicle sales increased by 14% to 213,657 units.

Sales of the current generation Toyota AYGO increased by 17% to 19,340 units in the lead up to the new model’s start of sales.

The Toyota Yaris range saw first quarter sales totalling 49,656 units, up 12% from the same period last year.

With a 17% sales increase, the Toyota Auris range achieved a solid first quarter of sales to 38,289 units.

Sales of the Toyota Corolla more than doubled in the first quarter reaching 21,511 units with nearly three-quarters in Israel, Russia and Turkey.

In the SUV segment created by Toyota 20 years ago with the RAV4, the latest generation saw sales topping 24,829 units, up 45% from the same first three months of 2013.

During the first quarter, Lexus sales increased by 24% to 11,495 units following the successful launch of the Lexus IS last year.

TME also reported strong take-up of its hybrid models. In the first quarter, Toyota Yaris Hybrid sales reached 15,305 units, up 34%. The Yaris Hybrid achieved record month of sales in January and February, capping off with the best ever sales month to date in March.

The hybrid-powered Toyota Auris, both hatchback and Touring Sports, made up half of Auris sales in the first three months. March also saw the Auris Hybrid Touring Sports achieve the model’s best sales month.

For Lexus, the hybrid-powered Lexus IS 300h takes a mammoth share of over 80% of Lexus IS sales, with total sales of the range topping 3,390 units.