Toyota reclaimed the top spot as the most valuable automotive brand in the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013.

Toyota's brand value surged by 12% to $24.5 billion (€ 18.6 billion) over the past year, one of the biggest movers in the automotive sector.

The value of the Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Hyundai brands improved by double-digit percentages compared with 2012, largely because of strong demand in China and the United States, according to the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study.

In the eight years since the BrandZ report was first published in 2006, Toyota was crowned brand value leader in the automotive sector six times, and second on two separate occasions. BMW was the most valuable auto brand in the 2010 and 2012 rankings. Toyota held the top spot from 2006 until 2009 and again in 2011.

According to the report, although automotive sales improved in some regions, they remained below pre-recession levels in others, adversely impacting overall brand values. In contrast, global sales for Toyota Motor Corporation in 2012 increased by 22.6% to 9.75 million units which positively contributed towards the company's brand valuation in this year's report.

BrandZ(tm) also suggests that brand value developments in the sector were shaped in part by the growth of customer affinity towards hybrid vehicles.

Since Toyota pioneered the world's first mass produced full hybrid vehicle in 1997 - Toyota Prius - sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have exceeded 5 million globally. Customers in Europe can choose between 12 Toyota and Lexus hybrid models, including: Toyota Yaris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid Touring Sports, Prius, Prius+, Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and Lexus CT 200h, IS 300h, ES 300h, GS 450h, RX 450h, LS 600h.

Lexus retains its 10th position in the Top 10 list for the most valuable automotive brands with a brand value of $3.5 billion (€ 2.7 billion).