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Tampa/St. Petersburg-Area Toyota Sales Climb In July

14 August 1997

Tampa/St. Petersburg-Area Toyota Sales Climb In July

    MIAMI, Aug. 14 -- Toyota's five Tampa/St. Petersburg-area
dealers today reported a 53-percent climb in July retail truck sales and a
five-percent gain in July retail car sales over the year-ago month.
    Tampa/St. Petersburg-area dealers include Clearwater Toyota, Courtesy
Toyota, Precision Toyota, Stadium Toyota and Sutherlin Toyota.
    In the five-state region served by Southeast Toyota Distributors, Inc.,
total retail sales advanced 14 percent over the year-ago month.  Retail car
sales rose nine percent while retail truck sales advanced 43 percent.
    "In July, our dealers benefited from the increased availability of key
models and a favorable economy," said John Williams, Southeast Toyota general
manager.  "As a result of July's strong showing, calendar-year-to-date sales
are now outpacing last year's record by five percent."
    Ranked first among Toyota's American distributors in sales and customer
satisfaction, Southeast Toyota is the independent distributor of Toyotas in
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  Owned and
operated by JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Southeast Toyota is based in
Deerfield Beach, Florida.

SOURCE  Toyota Motor Sales