The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Toyota Announces Best Sales Year in Its 46-Year History, Breaks Sales Record for Eighth Year in a Row

* Camry is Best-Selling Car in America

* Lexus Retains Crown as Best-Selling Luxury Brand

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 5 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported year-end total sales of 1,866,314 vehicles, up 6.3 percent over last year and the company's best sales performance in its 46-year history.

Camry became the best-selling car in America for the second year in a row and sixth time in the past seven years, while the Lexus Division retained its crown as the best-selling luxury brand in America for the fourth consecutive year. The 2003 year-end total also marks the 14th consecutive year that Toyota sold more than one million cars and trucks.

"2003 will go down as one of the best years ever for new car buyers," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice president and COO. "Industry sales will continue to grow in 2004 spurred by a healthy economy and steady growth in consumer confidence."

Total sales for December were a best-ever 153,417, an increase of 4.3 percent over the same period last year.

The Toyota Division recorded best-ever year-end total sales of 1,606,559 vehicles, up 5.6 percent, marking the 10th year-in-a-row the Toyota Division has topped one million units.

The Toyota Division recorded best-ever year-end passenger car sales of 869,166, an increase of 4.0 percent. The record-setting year was paced by the popular Camry, which earned its "best-selling car in America" title by posting year-end sales of 413,296. Corolla was the best-selling compact car in America with best-ever total year-end sales of 325,477, an increase of 28.0 percent.

The all-new second-generation Prius gas-electric hybrid, recently voted the "2004 North American Car of the Year," posted best-ever December sales of 4,025, an increase of 116.2 percent. Year-end Prius sales were a best-ever 24,627, up 22.4 percent over last year.

Scion, the new car marque from TMS, reported September sales of 1,285 units. Available in California over the past seven months, year-end Scion sales totaled 10,898.

The Toyota Division recorded best-ever year-end light truck sales with 737,393, an increase of 7.5 percent. Toyota Division light trucks also posted best-ever December sales of 65,767, up 14.0 percent over the same period last year. The Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) led the way with best-ever year-end sales of 120,174, up 6.2 percent. The 4Runner mid-size SUV posted December sales of 9,374, an increase of 25.2 percent. Year-end 4Runner sales totaled 109,308, up 41.9 percent over last year. The Sienna van recorded its best-ever selling month with 13,849 units sold, up 96.4 percent. Year-end Sienna sales were a best-ever 105,499, up 30.4 percent over last year. The Sequoia full-size SUV posted best-ever December sales of 7,206, an increase of 8.8 percent over the same period last year.

Contributing to the light truck sales record was the Tacoma compact pickup truck with December sales of 11,658, up 1.8 percent. Year-end Tacoma sales totaled 154,154, an increase of 1.4 percent. The Tundra full-size pickup truck recorded best-ever December sales with 9,204 units sold. Year-end Tundra sales were 101,316, an increase of 2.0 percent over last year.

The Lexus Division enjoyed its best-ever sales year with 259,755 units sold, an increase of 11.0 percent. The Lexus Division also enjoyed its best- ever selling month with 28,176 units sold, up 9.0 percent.

Lexus light trucks posted best-ever year-end sales of 132,935, up 57.5 percent over last year. Lexus also recorded its best-ever selling month for light trucks with sales of 15,538, an increase of 30.6 percent over the same period last year. The RX 330 luxury SUV led the December sales charge with 10,594 units sold, up 23.0 percent. Year-end RX 330 sales were a best-ever 92,366, an increase of 26.6 percent over last year. The GX 470 luxury mid- size SUV posted its best-ever sales month with 3,781 units sold, up 66.0 percent over last year. In its first full selling year GX 470 sales totaled 31,376. The LX 470 full-size luxury SUV posted strong December sales of 1,163, an increase of 15.8 percent.

The Lexus LS 430 luxury sedan recorded 3,087 sales for the month, an increase of 36.7 percent.

Total TMS sales of North American-built vehicles totaled 1,119,609, representing 60.0 percent of total vehicles sold in 2003. There were 307 selling days in 2003, which equals the number in 2002.

  (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030501/TOYLOGO )

                             TOYOTA RETAIL SALES
                          (INCLUDES FLEET & HAWAII)
                                December, 2003

                       - CURRENT MONTH -       - CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE -
                                       DSR %                      DSR %
                     2003      2002     CHG       2003       2002   CHG

  ECHO                339     2,384   -86.3     26,167     30,859  -15.2
  COROLLA          19,712    19,610    -3.3    325,477    254,360   28.0
  CELICA              813     1,227   -36.3     14,856     22,893  -35.1
  CAMRY            29,818    31,009    -7.5    413,296    434,145   -4.8
  AVALON            3,311     4,898   -35.0     50,911     69,029  -26.2
  MR2 SPYDER          171       241   -31.8      2,934      4,705  -37.6
  PRIUS             4,025     1,790   116.2     24,627     20,119   22.4
  SCION xA            420         0      --      3,962          0     --
  SCION xB            865         0      --      6,936          0     --
  TOTAL TOYOTA
   DIV. PASS. CAR  59,474    61,159    -6.5    869,166    836,110    4.0

  ES 300            6,762     7,188    -9.5     65,762     71,450   -8.0
  LS 430            3,087     2,171    36.7     23,895     26,261   -9.0
  SC 430              673     1,032   -37.3     10,298     14,462  -28.8
  GS 300            1,027     1,402   -29.6     11,228     14,788  -24.1
  GS 430              150       238   -39.4      2,078      2,458  -15.5
  IS 300              939     1,378   -34.5     13,559     20,306  -33.2
  TOTAL LEXUS
   PASS. CAR       12,638    13,409    -9.4    126,820    149,725  -15.3

  TOTAL TOYOTA
   PASS. CAR       72,112    74,568    -7.0    995,986    985,835    1.0

  SIENNA           13,849     6,779    96.4    105,499     80,915   30.4
  RAV4              5,138     5,914   -16.5     73,204     86,601  -15.5
  4RUNNER           9,374     7,200    25.2    109,308     77,026   41.9
  HIGHLANDER        8,451     9,607   -15.4    120,174    113,134    6.2
  LAND CRUISER        887       730    16.8      6,671      6,752   -1.2
  SEQUOIA           7,206     6,366     8.8     67,067     70,187   -4.4

  4X2 TACOMA        6,610     6,477    -1.9     92,881     90,948    2.1
  4X4 TACOMA        5,048     4,534     7.1     61,273     61,012    0.4
  TOTAL TACOMA     11,658    11,011     1.8    154,154    151,960    1.4

  TUNDRA            9,204     7,880    12.3    101,316     99,333    2.0

  TOTAL PICKUP     20,862    18,891     6.2    255,470    251,293    1.7

  TOTAL TOYOTA
   DIV. LT TRUCK   65,767    55,487    14.0    737,393    685,908    7.5

  LX 470            1,163       966    15.8      9,193      9,231   -0.4
  GX 470            3,781     2,190    66.0     31,376      2,190 1332.7
  RX 330           10,594     8,280    23.0     92,366     72,963   26.6
  TOTAL LEXUS
   LIGHT TRUCK     15,538    11,436    30.6    132,935     84,384   57.5

  TOTAL TOYOTA
   LIGHT TRUCK     81,305    66,923    16.8    870,328    770,292   13.0

  TOTAL TOYOTA
   DIV.           125,241   116,646     3.2  1,606,559  1,522,018    5.6
  TOTAL LEXUS      28,176    24,845     9.0    259,755    234,109   11.0
  TOTAL TOYOTA    153,417   141,491     4.3  1,866,314  1,756,127    6.3

  MEMO:
  DOM. COROLLA     18,741    16,078    12.1    265,449    222,017   19.6
  DOM. CAMRY       26,321    23,774     6.5    367,394    346,288    6.1
  DOM. PICKUP      20,862    18,891     6.2    255,470    251,293    1.7
  DOM. RX 330       4,862         0      --      7,819          0     --

  TOTAL IMPORT
   CAR             23,739    29,818   -23.4    312,232    348,501  -10.4
  TOTAL DOMESTIC
   CAR             48,373    44,750     3.9    683,754    637,334    7.3
  TOYOTA DIV.
   IMPORT CAR      11,101    16,409   -35.0    185,412    198,776   -6.7
  TOTAL VEHICLE
   SALES          153,417   141,491     4.3  1,866,314  1,756,127    6.3
  Memo: Total
   Toyota Div.    125,241   116,646     3.2  1,606,559  1,522,018    5.6
  Memo: Total
   Lexus Div.      28,176    24,845     9.0    259,755    234,109   11.0

  TOYOTA DIV.
   IMPORT CAR      11,101    16,409   -35.0    185,412    198,776   -6.7
  LEXUS IMPORT
   CAR             12,638    13,409    -9.4    126,820    149,725  -15.3
  TOYOTA DIV
   NA BUILT CARS   48,373    44,750     3.9    683,754    637,334    7.3
  TOTAL TOYOTA
   CARS            72,112    74,568    -7.0    995,986    985,835    1.0

  SPORT UTILITY
   VEHICLES        46,594    41,253     8.6    509,359    438,084   16.3
  Memo: Lexus
   Sport Utility   15,538    11,436    30.6    132,935     84,384   57.5

  SMALL VANS       13,849     6,779    96.4    105,499     80,915   30.4
  PICKUPS          20,862    18,891     6.2    255,470    251,293    1.7

  * NORTH AMERICAN
     BUILT VEHICLES
  COROLLA          18,741    16,078    12.1    265,449    222,017   19.6
  CAMRY            26,321    23,774     6.5    367,394    346,288    6.1
  AVALON            3,311     4,898   -35.0     50,911     69,029  -26.2
  SIENNA           13,849     6,779    96.4    105,499     80,915   30.4
  PICKUP           20,862    18,891     6.2    255,470    251,293    1.7
  SEQUOIA           7,206     6,366     8.8     67,067     70,187   -4.4
  RX 330            4,862         0      --      7,819          0     --
  TOTAL            95,152    76,786    19.2  1,119,609  1,039,729    7.7
  N.A. VEHICLES
   % OF TOTAL       62.0%     54.3%              60.0%      59.2%

  SELLING DAYS         26        25                307        307

  DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030501/TOYLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media Web sites: http://pressroom.toyota.com, http://pressroom.lexus.com, http://pressroom.scion.com