Toyota has had a record-breaking six months in Victoria, extending its lead as the state's most popular automotive brand.

New official figures show Toyota is the market leader in Victoria by more than 10,000 sales - the first time it has established such a lead at the half-way point of the year.

Toyota's Southern Region manager Chris Beuth said Victorians bought an unprecedented 29,213 Toyota vehicles in the six months to June 30.

Mr Beuth said this was an increase of 11.6 per cent over the same period last year - and outstripped the state-wide average of 8.4 per cent.

"Toyota is continuing to expand its presence in Victoria, lifting sales and market share against strong competition," Mr Beuth said.

"This demonstrates the strength of the Toyota brand, the diverse range of vehicles and the support of a first-rate dealer network," he said.

"We expect to gain further loyalty among Victorian motorists following the recent announcement that Toyota will build Australia's first hybrid car at our Altona plant from 2010," he said.

Toyota's market share in Victoria has risen to 20.7 per cent this year - up from 20.1 per cent - and more than seven percentage points ahead of the nearest rival.

Mr Beuth said the Victorian results had enabled Toyota to set national industry sales records for June, for the first half of the year and for the financial year.

Toyota's best-selling car in Victoria is Corolla with 6,038 sales for the six months to 30 June - an increase of 15.2 per cent.

Nationally, Corolla is the best-selling vehicle for the first half of the year - the first time a Toyota has achieved that feat.

Yaris, HiLux, Aurion and Camry were also among the best-selling vehicles in Victoria for the six months.

Industry statistician VFacts said total new-vehicle sales in Victoria were 141,329 for the January-June 2008 period, compared with 130,387 during the same six months of 2007.