Toyota Announces Best-Ever April Sales
4 May 1999
Toyota Announces Best-Ever April Sales: Both Toyota And Lexus Divisions Report Record Sales Month
TORRANCE, Calif., May 3 -- Following the best-ever first
quarter sales in its history, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., reported
today best-ever April sales of 118,833 vehicles, an increase of 9.6 percent
over last year's record-setting month, and the company's third consecutive
best-ever April.
In addition, both TMS divisions increased sales over the same period last
year. The Toyota Division reported total best-ever April sales of 103,471
versus 95,993 in 1998, while the Lexus Division posted its best April with
sales of 15,362, up 23.7 percent. Best-ever April sales also were recorded by
Toyota passenger car and light truck segments, up 8.1 percent and 7.2 percent
respectively, and by the Lexus light truck category, up 68.0 percent, to
6,936.
"The economy has the legs of a marathon runner," said Yale Gieszl, TMS
executive vice president. "Consumers look at interest rates, inflation, Wall
Street and the job market, and have every reason to be confident."
Fueling the Toyota Division's record-breaking month were sales of the
number-one selling car in America, the Camry, which reported its best-ever
April with sales of 38,424, up 20.7 percent. Calendar-year-to-date Camry
sales total 141,890, up 33.6 percent compared to last year.
The Corolla also showed a gain of 0.5 percent over last April, to 20,753,
with calendar-year-to-date sales totaling 78,629, an increase of 6.4 percent
compared to the same period last year.
The Toyota Division's record-setting light truck sales were led by the
Sienna minivan which posted the best sales month in its history with 8,951
units, up 24.8 percent. The 4Runner sport utility vehicle (SUV) showed strong
April sales of 9,875 units, up 5.2 percent and the Tacoma 2WD and 4WD compact
pickup trucks were up 12.0 percent, to 13,170.
Hot Lexus Division sales were ignited by the RX 300 SUV, with reported
sales of 5,556, up 77.6 percent, and the LX 470, up 37.9 percent to 1,380
units. The ES 300 led the Lexus passenger car segment with a 19.1 percent
increase over last April, to 4,024. The GS 300 also was up 4.9 percent, with
2,005 units sold.
Sales of North American-built vehicles were up 12.9 percent compared to
the same period last year, to 75,751 units, which represented nearly 64
percent of total April sales.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
APRIL, 1999
CURRENT MONTH CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE
DSR % DSR %
1999 1998 CHG 1999 1998 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE
SALES 118,833 108,416 9.6 442,375 381,949 15.8
Memo: Total
Toyota Div. 103,471 95,993 7.8 385,697 341,063 13.1
Memo: Total
Lexus Div. 15,362 12,423 23.7 56,678 40,886 38.6
TOYOTA DIV.
IMPORT CAR 11,195 11,802 -5.1 45,273 38,760 16.8
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 8,426 8,294 1.6 30,958 34,430 -10.1
TOYOTA DIV NA
BUILT CARS 53,630 48,156 11.4 196,661 168,152 17.0
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 73,251 68,252 7.3 272,892 241,342 13.1
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 23,447 20,530 14.2 87,747 66,577 31.8
Memo: Lexus
Sport Utility 6,936 4,129 68.0 25,720 6,456 298.4
SMALL VANS 8,951 7,188 24.5 30,549 24,244 26.0
PICKUPS 13,184 12,446 5.9 51,187 49,786 2.8
* NORTH AMERICAN
BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 20,753 20,655 0.5 78,629 73,919 6.4
CAMRY 27,828 20,881 33.3 98,807 70,100 41.0
AVALON 5,049 6,620 -23.7 19,225 24,133 -20.3
SIENNA 8,951 7,174 24.8 30,549 24,184 26.3
PICKUP 13,170 11,755 12.0 50,999 46,655 9.3
TOTAL 75,751 67,085 12.9 278,209 238,991 16.4
N.A. VEHICLES %
OF TOTAL 63.7% 61.9% -- 62.9% 62.6% --
SELLING DAYS 26 26 -- 102 102 --
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE