Hawaii is well-known for many things, beautiful beaches, world-class sunsets and crystal blue water. One thing that may not be is not so popularized is Hawaii’s love for the Toyota – specifically the Tacoma. More and more people are joining the conversation about why the Tacoma has been chosen as the overall best seller in Hawaii for 16 consecutive years. That’s right, this is no fluke people, this is the real deal!
On his recent visit to Hawaii, Jo Koy emphasized this fact while in Maui, dubbing the island the “world’s largest Toyota Tacoma dealership.” He jokes “we got small ones! We got street customs! We got ugly ones!” Well it turns out, there was more to his Tacoma skit than a fun-loving joke. According to a new study by EducatedDriver.org, Toyota is by far the most popular car brand in Hawaii.
That’s right! As long as Hawaii is concerned, T-O-Y-O-T-A spells automotive gold in the islands. The Tacoma has been the #1 car in Hawaii for the last 16 years, going back as far as 2003. Further, Hawaii is the onlystate to dub the Tacoma king-pin on automotive stage. According to Popular Mechanics, the Toyota Tacoma sells about eight times faster in Hawaii than it does across the entire United States. So what’s the hype with the Tacoma?
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Hawaii has the highest percentage of Asian Americans of any state in the US with 39% of the population being of Asian descent. It has been shown that non-white ethnic groups are more likely to purchase non-American brands at a higher rate. Additionally, Hawaii’s location in the Pacific ocean has shown that purchasing patterns converge towards Toyota and Asian brands in general as buyers relate more closely to this part of the world culturally. All factors considered, this leads to the perfect target market for Toyota.
In a recent study done amongst Hawaii residents, some of the common feedback from locals included comments like “the Tacoma is a well built truck with a strong 4x4 pedigree and lots of custom parts” and “Tacoma’s have all the functions of a pickup truck and great fuel economy.” Another user added, “the truck is sturdy and yet small enough to fit in the small parking spots Hawaii is known for.” Anyone who knows the high cost of living in Hawaii, soaring gas prices and markedly smaller parking stalls available, it’s no surprise the Tacoma has come out on top.
What do you think? Why is the Tacoma so popular in Hawaii? At KW Auto Body, we see a range of cars come through our shop and we have become experts in both the popular brands and lesser-known car brands throughout the islands. Send us an online estimates request or give us a call if your car needs some work. Whether you have a souped up custom car or one of the uglier models, we can help!