Toyota's national dealer and service network has invested $100 million per year in new facilities over the past three years and will continue to invest similar amounts each year until 2012, the company says.

This substantial existing and ongoing investment is occurring across all elements of the business - from updating showrooms to developing new and expanded service centres, and continuing to provide expert training for technicians.

The dealership investments are more than financial and technological. Toyota says it continues to develop better programs and improved techniques in vehicle servicing, and seeks ways to maximise efficiency in dealership operations and processes.

Matthew Callachor, Toyota Australia's divisional manager of customer services, said Toyota aims to build on the company's number one sales position, but further, to focus more strongly on customer service and relationships.

He said a key factor in providing genuinely better customer service for Toyota owners is to make all the elements of vehicle maintenance more conveniently accessible.

"Toyota dealers make vehicle maintenance easy and convenient, providing all the products and services a Toyota vehicle will ever need.

"This holistic approach eliminates the hassle and time spent shopping around at different providers to satisfy a range of vehicle maintenance requirements."

Toyota dealers offer customers a one-stop-shop, with a range of products and services outside general vehicle repair and servicing.

These include Toyota Genuine Accessories, Express Maintenance, Service Advantage (low cost capped-price servicing), battery check and replacement, wheel alignment, Roadside Assistance, and registration checks with pink and green slips.

Expert Toyota-trained technicians use only Toyota Genuine parts and fluids during servicing. All replacement tyres and batteries are recommended by Toyota in line with original equipment fitted to Toyota vehicles.

Toyota's investment in customer service has been recognised in a recent survey conducted by Reader's Digest. The Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Survey 2008 ranks Toyota as the number one "most trusted" automotive brand, and equal 14th from 130 general brands surveyed in Australia.

Toyota has increased or maintained its placing each year for the last three years. Survey feedback focused on perceptions of the reliability and value-for-money aspects of the Toyota brand.

In a separate, global survey conducted in February and March 2008 by private research and consulting firm Reputation Institute, Toyota emerged as the world's most respected company.