Toyota Announces April Sales
1 May 1998
Toyota Announces Best-Ever April Sales: Lexus Reports Best Month In Its History
TORRANCE, Calif., May 1 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A.,
Inc. reported today best-ever total April sales of 108,416 units, an increase
of 10.5% over last year's record setting month.
Both TMS sales divisions increased sales over the same period last year.
The Toyota Division recorded best-ever April sales of 95,993 versus 90,061 in
1997, while the Lexus Division reported its best sales month ever of 12,423
units, an increase of 55.1 percent.
"First-quarter industry sales were driven by a robust economy, low
inflation and rock-solid consumer confidence," said Yale Gieszl, TMS executive
vice president. "All indications point to an even stronger second quarter.
Incentives from the Big Three should increase floor traffic for everyone."
Fueling the Toyota Division's record-breaking month were best-ever April
sales for Avalon, up 7.6% to 6,620 units, and RAV4 which recorded 5,475 sales,
up 9.1%. The all-new Land Cruiser registered a strong increase of 71.3% over
April 1997 with sales of 1,543 units. Corolla also posted strong sales of
20,655 units, up 29.7%.
For the third month in a row, Toyota's compact pickup sales increased with
April numbers up 17.5% over the same period last year. Leading compact pickup
sales was the 2WD Tacoma at 6,412 units, up 21.3%, with the 4WD Tacoma posting
sales of 5,343 units, an increase of 13.3%.
The Lexus Division's historic sales month was due in part to strong sales
of 3,128 units of the all-new RX 300. The GS 300/400 and LS 400 recorded
increased sales of 2,907 and 1,735 units, respectively, over the same period
last year, while sales of the luxury division's full-size sport utility
vehicle, the LX 450/470, also were strong, up 64.9% to 1,001 units.
Sales of North American-built vehicles were up 9.3%, to 67,085 units
compared to the same period last year, and represented nearly 62% of total
April sales. There were 26 selling days reported for April 1998.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
APRIL, 1998
CURRENT MONTH CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE
DSR % DSR %
1998 1997 CHG 1998 1997 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE SALES 108,416 98,071 10.5 381,949 412,477 -7.4
Memo: Total Toyota Div. 95,993 90,061 6.6 341,063 382,553 -10.8
Memo: Total Lexus Div. 12,423 8,010 55.1 40,886 29,924 36.6
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT CAR 11,802 9,606 22.9 38,760 46,918 -17.4
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 8,294 7,403 12.0 34,430 27,299 26.1
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT CARS 48,156 51,381 -6.3 168,152 213,642 -21.3
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 68,252 68,390 -0.2 241,342 287,859 -16.2
SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 20,530 16,675 23.1 66,577 67,549 -1.4
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 4,129 607 580.2 6,456 2,625 145.9
SMALL VANS 7,188 5011334.7 24,244 1,885 1186.2
PICKUPS 12,446 12,505 -0.5 49,786 55,184 -9.8
* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 20,655 15,748 31.2 73,919 74,032 -0.2
CAMRY 20,881 29,480 -29.2 70,100 116,249 -39.7
AVALON 6,620 6,153 7.6 24,133 23,361 3.3
SIENNA 7,174 0 NA 24,184 0 NA
PICKUP 11,755 9,992 17.6 46,655 44,434 5.0
TOTAL 67,085 61,373 9.3 238,991 258,076 -7.4
N.A. VEHICLES % OF TOTAL 61.9% 62.6% -- 62.6% 62.6% --
SELLING DAYS 26 26 -- 102 102 --
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE
SOURCE Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.