Toyota sales race to record in Middle East

Toyota sales have surged to a record high in the Middle East, rising by 33 per cent in the UAE alone.

That helped the Japanese company regain its position as the world's number one car maker and capped a bumper year for automotive sales across the Emirates.

Toyota sold 624,400 vehicles in the GCC last year - a 31 per cent increase on 2011. Middle East sales were also 31 per cent higher at a record 660,285 cars.

Car makers have reported double-digit growth in the UAE despite the introduction of Central Bank car loan limits two years ago.

"The economy is going very well and so purchasing power is high," said Nobuyuki Negishi, Toyota's chief representative for the Middle East and North Africa. "Lots of people are coming to the UAE, especially to Dubai and they require vehicles. The UAE market is showing a strong increase."

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