For the sixth year in a row, Toyota has been named the most valuable car brand in the world. The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report is conducted by Kantar Millward Brown consultancy group, and it identified Toyota as the most valuable automaker in the world with a valuation of $29.9 billion, ahead of runner-up Mercedes-Benz ($25.68 billion) and third-place finisher BMW ($25.62 billion).

Toyota’s place atop the automotive sector in the BrandZ rankings came on the strength of the automaker’s “reputation for quality and reliability,” which helped it “generate a high level of loyalty” among its customers. That kind of sentiment spurred models like the Toyota Camry to sell like hot pancakes last year. In fact, the Camry was the best-selling sedan in the U.S. in 2017.

While Toyota continued its reign for the sixth year in a row, 2017 runner-up BMW lost its spot to rival Mercedes-Benz by the slimmest of margins. The good news for both automakers was that their values grew with Mercedes posting a nine-percent increase in valuation to $25.68 billion and BMW reporting a four-percent increase to $25.62 billion.

Ford once again came in at fourth place with a valuation of $12.7 billion, a two-percent drop compared to its 2017 value. Rounding out the top 10 are Honda ($12.69 billion), Nissan ($11.42 billion), Audi ($9.63 billion), Tesla ($9.42 billion), Maruti Suzuki ($6.38 billion), and Volkswagen ($5.99 billion). Despite being one of the largest automakers in the world, the German auto giant’s low valuation came as a result of continued skepticism of the company stemming from the Dieselgate scandal.

Of all the auto brands that made the list, Tesla experienced the biggest gains, increasing its value by a staggering 60 percent compared to 2017. According to Kantar Millward Brown, the electric car maker’s strong showing came as a result of “fascination with a technology brand that is also in the space travel business and the sense of potential as more affordable Teslas enter the market…”

As a whole, the auto industry did well in the rankings, claiming seven percent in value on the shoulders of crossovers, SUVs, and luxury vehicles. Increased sales in “most regions of the industrialized world” also contributed to its growth.

With the rise of hybrids, electric cars, and autonomous driving technology, expect 2018 to be an even bigger year for the sector with Toyota once again leading the charge.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Toyota Camry.

Read more Toyota news.