Toyota's production of more stylish vehicles with greater appeal to young buyers has led to the company being named the world's most valuable automotive brand for the ninth consecutive year.
Valuation of the Toyota brand has improved by nine per cent in the past year to almost $US30.3 billion, according to the annual Best Global Brands Report 2012 compiled by the international consultancy Interbrand.
Interbrand said Toyota - which this year introduced several new vehicles including the 86 sports coupe and Prius c city car - is reinventing its brand with more stylish and better-looking vehicles.
"In addition to showing solid numbers with repeat customers, Toyota is strengthening its appeal with younger consumers," the report said.
Interbrand cited the continued growth of Toyota's Prius portfolio, saying that hybrid cars were a "clear differentiator" for the company.
"Toyota's Prius customers continue to deepen their connection to the Toyota portfolio. At the same time, the Prius line-up is creating an influx of new customers to the Toyota brand."
The brand secured 10th position across all industries, an improvement of one place over 2011. It has been rated as the world's most valuable automotive brand each year since 2003.
Toyota's brand worth is rated ahead of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the only other automotive companies with brands valued over $US20 billion.
In June this year, Toyota also emerged on top for the second year running as the Best Global Green Brand.
Interbrand highlighted Toyota's continued determination to maintain environmental sustainability as a top management priority as a key part of the company's success story.
When compiling the Best Global Brands report, Interbrand uses a methodology that takes into account a multitude of factors that affect how a brand connects with the consumer and adds value to the organisation.
