TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Toyota distributor Hotai Motor said Monday that Toyota and Lexus held 46.6% of Taiwan's car market share in January.

Hotai Motor Chair Huang Nan-kuang (黃南光) said the figure set a record. In January, 16,351 Toyota and Lexus vehicles were sold in Taiwan, marking a 6.5% growth compared to the same month last year, per CNA.

Toyota sold 12,760 vehicles in January, up 3.9% from the same period last year. Lexus sold 3,591 vehicles, a 16.7% increase, and led the luxury car segment with a 36.7% market share.

The company estimates that Toyota and Lexus will sell 9,200 vehicles in February, with a market share of approximately 38.3%. 

Huang said the Hotai's revenue surpassed NT$275.7 billion (US$9.04 billion) last year, setting a record. Toyota and Lexus ranked first and second in market sales, respectively.

Huang added that Hotai will continue to pursue digital transformation and "Mobility as a Service" to meet customer needs. The service includes travel information inquiries, itinerary planning, mobile payments, and car rental services.

New car registrations in Taiwan totaled 35,064 vehicles in January, down 21.8% from the same period last year. Registrations in February are expected to reach around 24,000.

In January, 16,580 imported cars were registered in Taiwan, a 13.1% decrease compared to the same period last year. Of those, 9,793 were luxury vehicles, with their market share falling to 27.9%.