International nameplate sales rose a healthy 7.2% in June, despite the onslaught by General Motors’ incentive program that pushed the domestic automaker’s sales up 46.9% for the month. GM’s sales push caused June market share for internationals to dip slightly below the 40% mark for the first time in over six months, but year to date share still stands at 43.3%.
 
Nissan, Toyota Honda lead the way
International sector gains were almost wholly covered by the top three manufacturers. Toyota’s sales were up 14.4% for the month, and the company is now running 10.9% ahead of last year’s record-breaking sales pace. Honda posted an 8.9% sales increase, leveling out their sales to nearly 1% ahead of last year. The luxury divisions of all three -- Lexus, Acura and Infiniti -- all posted double digit sales gains.
 
The top gainer, Nissan, up 18.8%, is now well on its way to break one million in sales for the first time in a calendar year, having just achieved that mark for the first time ever in its latest fiscal year. Models to note include the Altima sedan, whose 27% sales gain for the month makes it the fifth best selling car in America, and the all-new Pathfinder, which is enjoying monthly and year to date sales that are nearly triple last year’s numbers.
 
Toyota scored a series of company bests, including record-setting hybrid sales of 15,096 units that comprise 78.5% of total hybrid volume in the U.S. The Prius alone, with 9,622 units, accounts for more than half of all hybrids sold. The Avalon sedan continues to break its own records with 9,134 sold, and Scion had its best June with 12,859 units sold among the brand’s three models. Toyota also scored well in trucks, with its Lexus and Toyota brands both reporting best-ever June sales.
 
Honda also broke its own June record for the main Honda division with 107,672 units sold, marking the first time the brand broke the 100,000 unit mark for the month. Thanks to record truck sales for the Odyssey minivan and Pilot and CR-V SUVs, and the addition of the new Ridgeline, the truck division also had its best June in history. Acura posted its 20th consecutive month of record sales in June, the 18,744 units sold mark the third best month in the luxury division’s history.
 
Subaru, MINI and Land Rover -- and Saab
Subaru posted a 10.7% increase in June, thanks to the introduction of the B9 Tribeca SUV which sold 1,540 units. The Tribeca has received universally rave reviews at a time when the media’s attitude toward SUVs has cooled considerably. Subaru’s year to date sales are up 5.8%.
 
MINI continues to impress the marketplace with its niche strategy, selling 3,607 vehicles for a 24.6% monthly gain and a 23.4% increase for the year to date. The sales increase continues to come from the convertible versions of its two models.
 
As the company hoped, Land Rover’s sales have been resurrected by the introduction of the new LR3. Land Rover sales are up 15.3% for the year as the new vehicle replaces the Discovery, and the Ranger Rover model also posted a 29.5% increase.
 
Saab’s sales jumped an astonishing 63.5% for the month, thanks to the brand offering GM’s employee discount to its customers. The new 9-2X hatchback recorded 1,999 sales for the month, and the 9-3 sold 3,608 units.
 
Hyundai, Mercedes, Suzuki -- and Audi
Hyundai set an all-time monthly record in June, with sales of 43,051 vehicles that represent a 4.1% increase for the month. The Elantra had sales of 11,910 units, combined SUV sales were 14,567 for the Santa Fe and Tucson, establishing an all-time record for monthly SUV sales. Hyundai’s volume is up 9.5% for the year.
 
Mercedes sales were up 4.4%, thanks to a 58.9% rise from the all new M-Class, and a near tripling of sales for the SLK-Class. Mercedes sales are down 4.3% for the year to date.
 
Suzuki’s sales were off slightly for the month, down 0.5%, but the automaker continues to run 5.5% ahead of last year’s record-breaking pace.
 
Audi’s sales are up 3.8%, due to the introduction of the new A3, which sold 564 cars. The uptick brought Audi close to keeping pace with last year’s sales, off just 0.7%
 
BMW, Mazda, Porsche
BMW’s sales fell 6.5% for the month, due to a surprising dip in its SUV sales, which have been strong for the year to date. Through the first six months of the year, BMW sales are down 2.4%.
 
Also surprising was Mazda’s 18.2% monthly shortfall, due to a dropoff in sales of the 3 and 6 series vehicles, which have been selling well. The new Mazda 3 is selling 23.4% ahead of last year’s numbers to date, and the Mazda 6 is up 9.7%. For the year, Mazda is down 3.9%.
 
Porsche fell 9.1%, due to a sharp drop in 911 and Cayenne sales. The Boxster, however, continues to do well, up 79.3% for the month and 94.2% for the year. All told, Porsche is up 2.7% for the year.
 
Volvo, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Jaguar
Volvo’s sales were down 5.7% for the month, due largely to a dropoff in XC70 sales in the face of the XC90 SUV’s popularity. VW is down 16% for the month, a slightly lower drop than the company has been averaging, and Mitsubishi also fared better than it has, with a 13.7% decline. Jaguar’s sales are down 31.5% for the month and 28.5% for the year.
 
 
 

June 2005 International Vehicle Sales

 

Jun ’05

Jun ’04

% Chg

05 YTD

04 YTD

% Chg

Audi 7,209 6,947 3.8% 37,701 37,970 -0.7%
BMW 23,392 25,013 -6.5% 122,864 125,834 -2.4%
Mini 3,607 2,896 24.6% 21,979 17,812 23.4%
Honda 107,672 99,919 7.8% 587,419 589,286 -0.3%
Acura 18,744 16,182 15.8% 104,945 96,738 8.5%
Hyundai 43,051 41,336 4.1% 224,437 205,011 9.5%
Isuzu 1,289 2,557 -49.6% 7,599 14,575 -47.9%
Jaguar 2,888 4,219 -31.5% 17,162 24,006 -28.5%
Kia 27,095 27,636 -2.0% 143,086 135,901 5.3%
Land Rover 3,414 2,961 15.3% 17,871 16,025 11.5%
Mazda 22,063 26,962 -18.2% 134,988 140,536 -3.9%
Mitsubishi 10,621 12,301 -13.7% 65,753 101,802 -35.4%
Mercedes-Benz 18,257 17,484 4.4% 98,724 103,168 -4.3%
Nissan 81,158 68,248 18.9% 476,297 410,475 16.0%
Infiniti 11,623 9,860 17.9% 66,424 62,310 6.6%
Porsche 2,551 2,807 -9.1% 16,126 15,708 2.7%
Saab 6,614

4,045

 63.5% 20,968

19,430

 7.9%
Subaru 17,946 16,217 10.7% 93,303 88,226 5.8%
Suzuki 7,449 7,485

-0.5%

 42,014 39,807

5.5%

Toyota 194,875 170,366 14.4% 1,114,070 1,004,637 10.9%
Lexus 26,043 23,067 12.9% 142,006 138,169 2.8%
Volkswagen 19,071 22,692 -16.0% 96,704 126,374 -23.5%
Volvo 12,276 13,019 -5.7% 66,067 69,160 -4.5%
TOTAL 668,908 624,219 7.2% 3,718,507 3,582,960 3.8%
Source: Manufacturers     Chart: AIADA