In the eight years since the BrandZ report was first published in 2006, Toyota was crowned brand value leader in the automotive sector six times, and came second on two other occasions.
Global sales for Toyota Motor Corporation in 2012 increased by 22.6 percent to 9.75 million units. The growth of customer affinity towards hybrid vehicles also helped towards the company's brand valuation in this year's report.
Since Toyota pioneered the world's first mass produced full hybrid vehicle in 1997 - the Toyota Prius - sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have exceeded five million globally. Customers in Europe can choose between 12 Toyota and Lexus hybrid models.
Lexus retains its 10th position in the Top 10 list for the most valuable automotive brands with a brand value of $US 3.5 billion (that's €2.7 billion).
The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report, commissioned by WPP and conducted by Millward Brown Optimor, surveys some two million consumers in over 30 countries.
The Toyota Auris Hybrid launched last November is pictured above.
