**Toyota leading automotive company in Most Valuable Global Brands index**
**Brand value calculated at more than $42 billion by Kantar Millward Brown study**
**Toyota listed as the leading automotive company for the 12th time in 14 years**
Toyota says its global reach, broad model range and pioneering alternative energy technologies are fundamental factors that have resulted in its latest ranking as the world's most valuable car brand.
Toyota's brand value has been calculated at more than $42 billion ($US29.15 billion), making it the leading automotive company in the BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2019 study by market researcher Kantar Millward Brown.
It is the 12th time Toyota has led the automotive rankings in the 14 years the study has been carried out. Toyota was ranked in second place for the other two years.
In this year's study, second and third places in the automotive sector were taken by luxury German marques. Along with Toyota, they were the only automotive companies listed in the overall top 100 brands.
Brand value is calculated using market capitalisation, profitability and shareholder enthusiasm, as well as the results of a survey of more than 3.7 million consumers in 51 countries about their attitudes towards, and relationships with, brands.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said the latest results reflected Toyota's global strengths in brand, vehicles and technology.
"Toyota is represented in more than 150 countries with an enormously diverse vehicle line-up that meets the needs and wants of consumers in almost every market segment, supported by strong dealer networks," Mr Hanley said.
"Toyota is also regarded as a global pioneer in advanced technologies, especially alternative powertrains such as hybrid-electric and fuel-cell electric that are designed to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels," he said.
"We are also a brand that is highly respected and admired - and only last month in Australia we were named the most trusted automotive company for the 14th year in a row in an independent survey published by Reader's Digest.
"In addition to our business operations, Toyota Australia has a long history of supporting our local communities through initiatives such as Good for Footy (more than $5.7 million raised for grassroots football), Good for Cricket ($2.9 million raised for grassroots cricket) and National Tree Day (more than 24 million trees planted)."
World's most valuable car brands ($US billions)
1. Toyota $29.15
2. Mercedes-Benz $23.36
3. BMW $23.33
4. Honda $11.75
5. Ford $11.21
6. Nissan $10.55
7. Tesla $9.29
8. Audi $8.56
9. Volkswagen $6.71
10. Porsche $5.82
Source: Kantar Millward Brown
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