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Toyota sold 4700 HiLuxes late month as tradies continue to take advantage of the Federal Government's small business investment allowance.
June's official VFACTS industry figures due out today are tipped to show the HiLux even outsold its nearest competitor, the Holden Commodore, by a margin of just 10 cars.
It is the third time in the past 18 months the tradies' favourite has outsold the Commodore, the most recent being October.
The HiLux result is helping firm Toyota's position as market leader this year.
But the ute and van boom is not just benefiting Toyota.
Other popular utes, the Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara also performed well last month.
Mitsubishi sold about 3000 Tritons and Nissan about 2500 Navaras.
Some dealers are even reporting stock shortages of some models, particularly diesel Navaras.
Mitsubishi dealers nationally only have seven Triton work utes left.
"We're awaiting the new model in September," Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson, Lenore Fletcher said.
Fletcher said June was traditionally the biggest car sales month of the year but even by Mitsubishi's standards it was a good month.
"It's a bit down on last June but we're happy," she said.
"The investment allowance has made a huge difference."
Apart from Toyota and Mitsubishi, Ford and Holden have also recorded strong sales months for their Commodore and Falcon utes.
However, the HiLux continues to dominates the 4x2 and 4x4 ute segments.
It has a 23 per cent share of the 4x2 segment and a 27 per cent share of the 4x4 pickup segment.
"If we got more we could sell more HiLuxes," Toyota Australia spokesman, Patrick Lyons, said.
Toyota's other star car was the Corolla, which sold 4000, helping push the company's overall tally for the month to 21,400 vehicles.
After months of car industry doom and gloom, Lyons said there is cause for optimism.
"We've got a positive outlook," he said.
Toyota Australia's senior executive director David Buttner said he expected the market to be stronger for the rest of the year.
Buyers are also swamping the budget end of the market with Hyundai's i30 hatch and Getz minicar recording bumper sales.
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