Toyota Sales Blitz Rolls on in March - - Records Best-Ever First Quarter Sales
2 April 1999
Toyota Sales Blitz Rolls on in March - - Records Best-Ever First Quarter Sales
TORRANCE, Calif., April 1 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc., today reported March sales of 120,987 units, an increase of
10.5 percent over last year. The strong sales month closed out a
record-breaking first quarter that totaled 323,542 units, an increase of
18.3 percent over the same period last year.
"The economy has defied predictions of a slowdown through the first
quarter and there is clear evidence that strong industry sales are on track to
continue well into the summer," said Yale Gieszl, TMS executive vice
president.
The Toyota Division posted strong March sales of 105,163 units, an
increase of 6.9 percent over last year. Total Toyota Division year-to-date
sales now stand at 282,226 units, an increase of 15.2 percent. The Lexus
Division recorded its best-ever March with total sales of 15,824, a
42.8 percent increase over the same period last year. Total Lexus Division
year-to-date sales currently stand at 41,316 units, up 45.2 percent over the
same period last year.
The strong performance was ignited by best-ever March sales of TMS light
trucks which totaled 46,699 units, an increase of 16.1 percent. Toyota
Division light trucks established a best-ever March with 39,415 sales, a
3.6 percent increase over last year. The popular Sienna minivan posted an
all-time best-ever sales month with 8,885 units sold, an increase of
19.6 percent, while Land Cruiser broke a 26-year-old record with best-ever
March sales of 1,617, an increase of 574.1 percent. Toyota compact trucks
also enjoyed a strong month with 14,005 total sales, good enough for a
3.4 percent increase over last March.
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded 65,748 sales, an increase of
9.0 percent over the same period last year. The top-selling Camry led the way
with 39,102 units sold, an increase of 23.9 percent.
The Lexus Division's best-selling March was fueled by their hot-selling
SUV's. Lexus light truck sales totaled 7,284, an increase of 237.4 percent,
setting an all-time monthly record. The RX 300 led the way with 5,860 sales,
an increase of 196.7 percent, while the LX 470 posted sales of 1,424, up
674.7 percent over the same period last year. The GS 300 sport sedan also
reported strong sales with 2,064 units sold, an increase of 15.2 percent over
last March.
Sales of North American-built vehicles made up 63.9 percent of total March
sales. There were 27 selling days in March compared to 26 last year.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
MARCH, 1999
CURRENT MONTH CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE
DSR % DSR %
1999 1998 CHG 1999 1998 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE SALES 120,987 105,389 10.5 323,542 273,533 18.3
Memo: Total Toyota
Div. 105,163 94,717 6.9 282,226 245,070 15.2
Memo: Total Lexus
Div. 15,824 10,672 42.8 41,316 28,463 45.2
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
CAR 11,340 10,658 2.5 34,078 26,958 26.4
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 8,540 8,593 -4.3 22,532 26,136 -13.8
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT
CARS 54,408 47,415 10.5 143,031 119,996 19.2
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 74,288 66,666 7.3 199,641 173,090 15.3
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 23,783 17,637 29.9 64,300 46,047 39.6
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 7,284 2,079 237.4 18,784 2,327 707.2
SMALL VANS 8,885 7,165 19.4 21,598 17,056 26.6
PICKUPS 14,031 13,921 -2.9 38,003 37,340 1.8
* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 20,787 20,315 -1.5 57,876 53,264 8.7
CAMRY 28,361 20,585 32.7 70,979 49,219 44.2
AVALON 5,260 6,515 -22.3 14,176 17,513 -19.1
SIENNA 8,885 7,153 19.6 21,598 17,010 27.0
PICKUP 14,005 13,041 3.4 37,829 34,900 8.4
TOTAL 77,298 67,609 10.1 202,458 171,906 17.8
N.A. VEHICLES % OF
TOTAL 63.9% 64.2% -- 62.6% 62.8% --
SELLING DAYS 27 26 -- 76 76 --
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE