Toyota Australia has strengthened its commitment to local sport by becoming the official automotive partner of Australian cricket for the next five years.
The deal involves Toyota supporting Cricket Australia, the Australian Vodafone test and Commonwealth Bank one-day teams, state associations and the KFC T20 Big Bash League.
Toyota will contribute to the future of Australian cricket by supplying more than 100 vehicles - the majority of which will be locally built Camry Hybrid sedans.
Toyota's executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the company was proud to sponsor one of Australia's most popular sports.
"The new cricket partnership is a natural extension of Toyota's involvement as a long-time and passionate supporter of Australian sport at all levels," Mr Callachor said.
"Cricket is one of the most played and watched sports in Australia and we are looking forward to a long-term and successful partnership.
"As with our other sports sponsorships, we intend to support Cricket Australia's development of the game at all levels, including the grass roots," he added.
Mr Callachor said the skills, commitment and passion of the Australian cricket teams were attributes shared by Toyota and its approximately 4,200 employees in Australia.
"Supporting Australian cricket with the locally built Camry Hybrid and other Toyota vehicles will showcase our range of vehicles while helping to grow cricket in Australia," he said.
"They will be driving cars that have been praised for their design, driving dynamics, spacious interior and class-leading power and fuel economy."
Cricket Australia's executive general manager - commercial, Mike McKenna, said he was pleased to see Australia's favourite sport teaming up with Australia's number one selling vehicle brand.
"Australian cricket is thrilled to partner with Toyota, an Australian manufacturer and a business with a strong track record of support for Australian sport," Mr McKenna said.
"Australian cricket is proud to support Toyota's environmental goals and initially half our State Association and Cricket Australia fleet will be Toyota hybrid vehicles. We will work with Toyota on opportunities to realise an all-hybrid fleet in the coming years.
"We welcome Toyota into the Australian cricket family and we're really excited about the opportunities this partnership offers from grassroots to the elite level."
Toyota already has a highly successful involvement with the major football codes as naming rights sponsor of the Australian Football League, official automotive partner of the National Rugby League and naming rights sponsor of the Toyota Cup Under-20 rugby league competition.
Toyota is the automotive market leader in Australia and has been the best-selling brand for each of the past nine years.
