Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013 published today has announced Toyota has reclaimed the top spot as the most valuable automotive brand

The value of the Toyota’s brand has increased by 12% to $24.5 billion (£16.2 billion), making it one of the biggest in the automotive sector.

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 second on two separate occasions.

According to the report, although automotive sales improved in some regions, they remained below pre-recession levels in others, adversely impacting overall brand values. In contrast, global sales for Toyota in 2012 increased by 22.6% to 9.75 million units which positively contributed towards the company’s brand valuation in this year’s report.

BrandZ™ also suggests that brand value developments in the sector were shaped in part by the growth of customer affinity towards hybrid vehicles.

Since Toyota pioneered the world’s first mass produced full hybrid vehicle in 1997 – Toyota Prius – sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have exceeded 5 million globally. UK customers can choose from the widest range of hybrid vehicles of any manufacturer including: Yaris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid Touring Sports, Prius, Prius+, Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and Lexus CT 200h, IS 300h, GS 450h, RX 450h, LS 600h.

Lexus retains its 10th position in the Top 10 list for the most valuable automotive brands with a brand value of $3.5 billion (£2.3 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.

Read More articles on Drive about Toyota at Drive.co.uk/Toyota or to find a used Toyota use our search below