Phuket car dealer, Toyota Pearl has recorded record-breaking sales for the launch of the brand?s new Yaris. 60 of the sporty cars were reserved in the first day on sales and 150 buyers made bookings for the Yaris over the first three days of it hitting the market.

With prices ranging from 599,000 to 749,000 baht, Chaipat Na-Ranong of Toyota Pearl told Phuket Post ?The new model suits Phuket because 45% of the vehicle market here belongs to small cars while 55% is for trucks.? He continued that the target market for the Yaris is young people, aged between 25 and 30, who have recently graduated or started work.

Toyota, second ranked in pick-up sales and top placed for car sales, forecasts its local market will grow by 10% this year. ?There is high purchasing power in Phuket's car market, because of the strength of local industries such as tourism and rubber industry,? K Chaipat said. ?The total sales for Toyota in Phuket in 2005 were 3,015 vehicles ? 1,700 trucks and 1,300 cars

He commented that fuel price increases in July last year, slowed the market slightly, but that it returned to normal after two months.