Toyota Announces Best-Ever March Sales
TORRANCE, Calif., April 1 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported best-ever March sales of 165,081, an increase of 9.2 percent from last year's record March, and the third-best sales month in the history of the company. Based on a daily selling rate, TMS first quarter sales of 409,093 units were up 1.2 percent over last year's record first quarter.
"Despite the many serious concerns in recent months, the industry has shown surprising resilience, a strong indication of the underlying health of the economy," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice president and COO. "Toyota's strong sales for the quarter have benefited from the overall high-quality and high-mileage of its product line."
The Toyota Division had a best-ever March with 144,232 units sold, up 10.3 percent from the same period last year. The Lexus Division enjoyed a strong March with sales of 20,849, an increase of 1.8 percent.
Toyota Division passenger cars led record March sales with 84,286 units sold, up 19.1 percent. Camry led the way with 38,656 units sold, an increase of 6.2 percent. The Toyota Corolla was not far behind with its best-ever March sales of 32,611 units, up 47.1 percent. Increasing public awareness of hybrid technology resulted in best-ever sales of the Prius electric-gas hybrid, with 2,532 units sold, an increase of 49.1 percent over the same period last year. The restyled Echo subcompact sedan enjoyed strong sales of 3,787, up 43.3 percent.
TMS total light truck sales posted best-ever March sales with 70,636 units sold, up 5.2 percent. Toyota Division's light truck sales had a solid March with 59,946 units sold. The Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) enjoyed best-ever March sales of 11,193 units, up 14.3 percent. Sales of the all-new, fourth-generation 4Runner were up 28.2 percent, at 8,334 units sold. The Tacoma compact pickup posted sales of 13,827 units, an increase of 2.9 percent.
Lexus SUVs celebrated a best-ever March with 10,690 units sold, an increase of 48.7 percent over the same period last year. The RX 300/RX 330 posted sales of 7,410 units, up 14.5 percent from last year. The all-new GX 470 luxury utility vehicle enjoyed its best-ever sales month with 2,663 units sold.
Sales of North American-built vehicles accounted for 60.3 percent of total March sales. There were 26 selling days compared to 27 last March.
TOYOTA RETAIL SALES
(INCLUDES FLEET & HAWAII)
March, 2003
----- CURRENT MONTH --- -- CALENDAR YEAR
TO DATE --
DSR % DSR %
2003 2002 CHG 2003 2002 CHG
ECHO 3,787 2,744 43.3 9,556 7,819 23.8
COROLLA 32,611 23,016 47.1 75,997 46,924 64.1
CELICA 1,476 2,193 -30.1 3,516 5,818 -38.8
CAMRY 38,656 37,798 6.2 94,004 109,915 -13.3
AVALON 4,917 5,572 -8.4 13,016 16,421 -19.7
MR2 SPYDER 307 407 -21.7 724 1,082 -32.2
PRIUS 2,532 1,763 49.1 6,106 5,198 19.0
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. PASS.
CAR 84,286 73,493 19.1 202,919 193,177 6.4
ES 300 5,376 6,440 -13.3 13,924 16,808 -16.1
LS 430 1,517 2,548 -38.2 4,503 6,040 -24.5
SC 430 808 1,459 -42.5 2,246 4,157 -45.3
GS 300 855 1,335 -33.5 2,326 3,505 -32.8
GS 430 150 203 -23.3 463 560 -16.2
IS 300 1,453 1,810 -16.6 3,392 4,156 -17.3
TOTAL LEXUS PASS. CAR 10,159 13,795 -23.5 26,854 35,226 -22.8
TOTAL TOYOTA PASS. CAR 94,445 87,288 12.4 229,773 228,403 1.9
SIENNA 6,603 7,234 -5.2 17,880 19,579 -7.5
RAV4 7,016 7,395 -1.5 17,213 20,391 -14.5
4RUNNER 8,334 6,750 28.2 22,392 17,161 32.2
HIGHLANDER 11,193 10,169 14.3 27,137 26,317 4.5
LAND CRUISER 457 550 -13.7 1,413 1,515 -5.5
SEQUOIA 4,671 6,335 -23.4 13,270 16,527 -18.6
4X2 TACOMA 8,513 8,294 6.6 20,863 21,502 -1.7
4X4 TACOMA 5,314 5,665 -2.6 13,525 14,655 -6.5
TOTAL TACOMA 13,827 13,959 2.9 34,388 36,157 -3.6
TUNDRA 7,845 9,882 -17.6 20,293 23,657 -13.1
TOTAL PICKUP 21,672 23,841 -5.6 54,681 59,814 -7.4
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. LT
TRUCK 59,946 62,274 0.0 153,986 161,304 -3.3
LX 470 617 743 -13.8 1,770 2,115 -15.2
GX 470 2,663 0 -- 6,668 0 --
RX 300 7,410 6,723 14.5 16,896 17,806 -3.8
TOTAL LEXUS LIGHT TRUCK 10,690 7,466 48.7 25,334 19,921 28.9
TOTAL TOYOTA LIGHT TRUCK 70,636 69,740 5.2 179,320 181,225 0.3
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. 144,232 135,767 10.3 356,905 354,481 2.0
TOTAL LEXUS 20,849 21,261 1.8 52,188 55,147 -4.1
TOTAL TOYOTA 165,081 157,028 9.2 409,093 409,628 1.2
MEMO:
DOM. COROLLA 25,942 23,016 17.0 60,338 46,924 30.3
DOM. CAMRY 35,681 30,142 22.9 79,344 83,301 -3.5
DOM. PICKUP 21,672 23,841 -5.6 54,681 59,814 -7.4
SELLING DAYS 26 27 75 76
TOTAL IMPORT CAR 27,905 28,558 1.5 77,075 81,757 -4.5
TOTAL DOMESTIC CAR 66,540 58,730 17.7 152,698 146,646 5.5
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT CAR 17,746 14,763 24.8 50,221 46,531 9.4
TOTAL VEHICLE SALES 165,081 157,028 9.2 409,093 409,628 1.2
Memo: Total Toyota
Div. 144,232 135,767 10.3 356,905 354,481 2.0
Memo: Total Lexus
Div. 20,849 21,261 1.8 52,188 55,147 -4.1
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT CAR 17,746 14,763 24.8 50,221 46,531 9.4
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 10,159 13,795 -23.5 26,854 35,226 -22.8
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT CARS 66,540 58,730 17.7 152,698 146,646 5.5
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 94,445 87,288 12.4 229,773 228,403 1.9
SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 42,361 38,665 13.8 106,759 101,832 6.2
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 10,690 7,466 48.7 25,334 19,921 28.9
SMALL VANS 6,603 7,234 -5.2 17,880 19,579 -7.5
PICKUPS 21,672 23,841 -5.6 54,681 59,814 -7.4
* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT
VEHICLES
COROLLA 25,942 23,016 17.0 60,338 46,924 30.3
CAMRY 35,681 30,142 22.9 79,344 83,301 -3.5
AVALON 4,917 5,572 -8.4 13,016 16,421 -19.7
SIENNA 6,603 7,234 -5.2 17,880 19,579 -7.5
PICKUP 21,672 23,841 -5.6 54,681 59,814 -7.4
SEQUOIA 4,671 6,335 -23.4 13,270 16,527 -18.6
TOTAL 99,486 96,140 7.5 238,529 242,566 -0.4
N.A. VEHICLES % OF TOTAL 60.3% 61.2% 58.3% 59.2%
SELLING DAYS 26 27 75 76
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media Web sites at http://pressroom.toyota.com and http://pressroom.lexus.com
