Vehicle sales peak

Last year's forecast was slated at 630,000 units, but amassed only 626,024 units. However, analysts and pundits alike are going for 690,000 units this year. The stimulants for growth are pickups, pickup-based SUVs and small passenger cars.

The premium passenger car segment contracted a bit owing to higher oil prices and customers shying away from gas-guzzlers.

The Toyota Fortuner SUV based on the Hilux Vigo pickup allowed the brand to create an unprecedented phenomenon with 80% market share of the SUV segment and possibly 40,000 units for the whole year.

All in all, the 625,556 units sold from January to November represents a continuous growth trend since the economic downtrend in 1997.