CHICAGO -

Toyota Motor Sales, USA commemorated a major certified pre-owned milestone on Wednesday at its Chicago Auto Show exhibit.

The company honored its 3 millionth CPO customer — Chicago resident Sara Hirschhorn — by giving her a $22,470 reimbursement check for the 2008 certified Toyota Sienna she bought.

The model represented the 3 millionth CPO ride Toyota has sold. The automaker boasted that it is the first single-line brand to hit this mark.

Toyota also donated $22,470 in Hirschhorn’s honor to the NorthShore University HealthSystem. She works at the NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital in Cook County as a nurse.

“The delivery of the 3 millionth customer signifies our continued growth and development as a CPO brand. The growth as a program obviously translates into achieving new sales milestones, but that is really accomplished by listening to our customers and our dealers and responding to their needs,” Jason Cropper, sales operations manager of Toyota Certified Used Vehicles, told Auto Remarketing on Wednesday.

“The long-term success of the program is also based on listening to the dealers and customers. When our dealers or customers have suggestions on how to make the TCUV program better we listen and try to incorporate the suggestions,” he continued.

“As more customers are finding their specific vehicle online, we have tried to enhance our online presence and search capabilities, which was a direct request of the dealers,” Cropper added. “The dealers and our field staff are really our eyes and ears as to what customers are looking for in a certified program as well as how to reach those customers.”

He went on to note that dealers’ hard work has served as a foundation for Toyota’s long-term CPO success. Cropper explained that “with customer awareness of manufacturer certified programs having increased over the last several years, our dealers continue to do a great job of helping to educate customers on the specific benefits of TCUV versus a non-certified unit.”

During 2010, Toyota moved 315,418 CPO units, an improvement of 18.6 percent year-over-year. The company said it was the first single-line nameplate to eclipse 300,000 certified sales in a year.

“Our sales success in 2010 validates the tremendous confidence that our customers have in the Toyota brand,” stated Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “Our Toyota Certified Used Vehicle program helps our dealers to build a strong portfolio of customers that frequently return to buy a new or certified pre-owned Toyota.”

Carter added: “We congratulate Sara on her purchase. With consistently high resale values, Toyota Certified Used Vehicles are a smart choice.”

Offering a bit more about the 3 millionth CPO customer, Hirschhorn has two small children and touted the reliability, ride quality and fuel efficiency offered by Toyota.

She bought the van at Schaumburg Toyota in Illinois.

“Toyota offers reliability, which is very important to my husband and me,” Hirschhorn commented. “We loved the ride quality and fuel efficiency.”