Toyota Reports 2004 Best-Ever March Sales and Record-Setting First Quarter
TORRANCE, Calif., April 1 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported best-ever March sales of 174,209, an increase of 5.5 percent from last year's record March. Toyota also posted its best-ever first quarter in 47 years of business in the U.S. with sales of 464,721, up 12.1 percent over the same period last year.
"Despite skyrocketing fuel prices, industry sales, especially in the light truck segment, remain strong," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice president and COO. "We anticipate a dramatic shift into higher fuel efficiency models if oil prices remain high."
The Toyota Division had a best-ever March with 149,196 units sold, up 3.4 percent. The Lexus Division enjoyed its best-ever March with sales of 25,013, an increase of 20.0 percent.
Toyota Division reported best-ever March light truck sales of 71,456, an increase of 19.2 percent. Leading the way was the Sienna van with its best-ever sales month of 15,724 units sold, an increase of 138.1 percent over the same period last year and breaking its previous sales record set just last month. Toyota mid-size sport utility vehicles (SUV) recorded strong March sales as the Highlander posted 11,311 sales, up 1.1 percent, while the 4Runner sold 10,018 units, up 20.2 percent. The Tundra full-size pickup posted sales of 8,671, an increase of 10.5 percent. The Sequoia full-size SUV also enjoyed strong sales of 5,036 units, up 7.8 percent. Sales of the Land Cruiser full-size SUV were up 21.9 percent.
Scion, the new car marque from TMS, reported its second consecutive best- ever month with 5,199 units sold in March. The popular xB urban utility vehicle posted a best-ever 3,551 units sold. The xA hatchback also recorded best-ever sales of 1,648.
Toyota passenger car sales got a boost from the Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size sedan, which posted best-ever March sales of 3,778, an increase of 49.2 percent.
Lexus Division light trucks enjoyed best-ever March sales of 12,699, an increase of 18.8 percent. The record-setting month was led by the RX 330 luxury SUV with best-ever March sales of 9,039, up 22.0 percent. The GX 470 luxury mid-size SUV posted best-ever March sales of 2,947, an increase of 10.7 percent, while sales of the LX 470 full-size luxury SUV were up 15.6 percent.
Lexus passenger car sales were up 21.2 percent with 12,314 units sold. The ES 330 luxury sedan recorded its best-ever March with sales of 6,876, an increase of 27.9 percent. The LS 430 flagship luxury sedan posted strong sales of 3,010, up 98.4 percent, while sales of the SC 430 hard top convertible rose 11.4 percent.
Sales of North American-built vehicles accounted for 63.9 percent of total March sales.
TOYOTA RETAIL SALES
(INCLUDES FLEET & HAWAII)
March, 2004
-- CURRENT MONTH -- -- CALENDAR YEAR
TO DATE --
DSR % DSR %
2004 2003 CHG 2004 2003 CHG
ECHO 384 3,787 -89.9 1,338 9,556 -86.2
COROLLA 28,199 32,611 -13.5 75,125 75,997 -2.4
CELICA 979 1,476 -33.7 2,608 3,516 -26.8
CAMRY 35,100 38,656 -9.2 96,180 94,004 1.0
AVALON 3,827 4,917 -22.2 9,883 13,016 -25.1
MR2 SPYDER 274 307 -10.7 712 724 -3.0
PRIUS 3,778 2,532 49.2 9,918 6,106 60.3
SCION xA 1,648 0 -- 3,486 0 --
SCION xB 3,551 0 -- 7,675 0 --
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. PASS.
CAR 77,740 84,286 -7.8 206,925 202,919 0.6
ES 330 6,876 5,376 27.9 17,676 13,924 25.3
LS 430 3,010 1,517 98.4 7,877 4,503 72.6
SC 430 900 808 11.4 1,998 2,246 -12.2
GS 300 452 855 -47.1 1,683 2,326 -28.6
GS 430 69 150 -54.0 312 463 -33.5
IS 300 1,007 1,453 -30.7 2,457 3,392 -28.5
TOTAL LEXUS PASS. CAR 12,314 10,159 21.2 32,003 26,854 17.6
TOTAL TOYOTA PASS. CAR 90,054 94,445 -4.6 238,928 229,773 2.6
SIENNA 15,724 6,603 138.1 42,145 17,880 132.6
RAV4 6,481 7,016 -7.6 16,789 17,213 -3.7
4RUNNER 10,018 8,334 20.2 27,794 22,392 22.5
HIGHLANDER 11,311 11,193 1.1 29,293 27,137 6.5
LAND CRUISER 557 457 21.9 1,501 1,413 4.8
SEQUOIA 5,036 4,671 7.8 14,055 13,270 4.5
TOTAL SUV 33,403 31,671 5.5 89,432 81,425 8.4
4X2 TACOMA 8,534 8,513 0.2 22,153 20,863 4.8
4X4 TACOMA 5,124 5,314 -3.6 14,733 13,525 7.5
TOTAL TACOMA 13,658 13,827 -1.2 36,886 34,388 5.9
TUNDRA 8,671 7,845 10.5 23,941 20,293 16.4
TOTAL PICKUP 22,329 21,672 3.0 60,827 54,681 9.8
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. LT
TRUCK 71,456 59,946 19.2 192,404 153,986 23.3
LX 470 713 617 15.6 2,080 1,770 16.0
GX 470 2,947 2,663 10.7 7,536 6,668 11.5
RX 330 9,039 7,410 22.0 23,773 16,896 38.9
TOTAL LEXUS LIGHT TRUCK 12,699 10,690 18.8 33,389 25,334 30.1
TOTAL TOYOTA LIGHT TRUCK 84,155 70,636 19.1 225,793 179,320 24.3
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. 149,196 144,232 3.4 399,329 356,905 10.4
TOTAL LEXUS 25,013 20,849 20.0 65,392 52,188 23.7
TOTAL TOYOTA 174,209 165,081 5.5 464,721 409,093 12.1
MEMO:
DOM. COROLLA 26,851 25,942 3.5 71,687 60,338 17.2
DOM. CAMRY 32,231 35,681 -9.7 85,594 79,344 6.5
DOM. PICKUP 22,329 21,672 3.0 60,827 54,681 9.8
DOM. RX 330 5,307 0 -- 13,037 0 --
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT CAR 14,831 17,746 -16.4 39,761 50,221 -21.9
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 12,314 10,159 21.2 32,003 26,854 17.6
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT CARS 62,909 66,540 -5.5 167,164 152,698 8.0
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 90,054 94,445 -4.6 238,928 229,773 2.6
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT LT
TRUCK 28,367 27,000 5.1 75,377 68,155 9.1
LEXUS IMPORT LT TRUCK 7,392 10,690 -30.9 20,352 25,334 -20.7
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT LT
TRUCK 43,089 32,946 30.8 117,027 85,831 34.6
LEXUS NA BUILT LT TRUCK 5,307 0 -- 13,037 0 --
TOTAL TOYOTA LT TRUCK 84,155 70,636 19.1 225,793 179,320 24.3
SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 46,102 42,361 8.8 122,821 106,759 13.5
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 12,699 10,690 18.8 33,389 25,334 30.1
SMALL VANS 15,724 6,603 138.1 42,145 17,880 132.6
PICKUPS 22,329 21,672 3.0 60,827 54,681 9.8
* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT
VEHICLES
COROLLA 26,851 25,942 3.5 71,687 60,338 17.2
CAMRY 32,231 35,681 -9.7 85,594 79,344 6.5
AVALON 3,827 4,917 -22.2 9,883 13,016 -25.1
SIENNA 15,724 6,603 138.1 42,145 17,880 132.6
PICKUP 22,329 21,672 3.0 60,827 54,681 9.8
SEQUOIA 5,036 4,671 7.8 14,055 13,270 4.5
RX 330 5,307 0 -- 13,037 0 --
TOTAL 111,305 99,486 11.9 297,228 238,529 23.0
N.A. VEHICLES % OF TOTAL 63.9% 60.3% 64.0% 58.3%
SELLING DAYS 26 26 76 75
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE
