Toyota Announces Best-Ever Sales Month: Record Spans 42 Years of Business In U.S.
3 June 1999
Toyota Announces Best-Ever Sales Month: Record Spans 42 Years of Business In U.S.
TORRANCE, Calif., June 2 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A.,
Inc., today reported the best sales month in its 42-year history with total
May sales of 142,625, an increase of 4.7 percent over last May and eclipsing
the previous sales mark set this past December.
Both TMS sales divisions increased sales over the same period last year.
The Toyota Division recorded best-ever May sales with 124,515 versus 121,654
in 1998, while the Lexus Division reported its best-ever sales month with
18,110, an increase of 23.9 percent over last May.
"High consumer confidence drove Toyota's sales to an all-time peak in
May," said Yale Gieszl, TMS executive vice president. "And there seems to be
a developing consensus that this is a new plateau, not merely a surge."
Camry, America's hottest-selling car, led the charge with best-ever May
sales of 46,063, an increase of 3.8 percent over the same period last year.
Year-to-date Camry sales are 24.8 percent ahead of last year's record sales
pace.
Toyota light trucks also recorded a best-ever May sales month. The
legendary Land Cruiser sold 1,787 units, an increase of 4.1 percent and the
best-ever sales month since it went on sale in 1958. The Sienna minivan
recorded the best-ever sales month in its history with 9,768 units sold, an
increase of 27.3 percent. Strong sales also were posted by 4Runner with
12,323, an increase of 16.5 percent over last May, and RAV4 with 6,144 units
sold, an increase of 3.8 percent. Rounding out the Toyota Division's record-
shattering month was the Tacoma compact pickup with sales of 15,688, up 7.1
percent.
The Lexus Division's record sales month was fueled by the RX 300 sport
utility vehicle which recorded its best-ever sales month with 6,694 units
sold, an increase of 55.1 percent over the same period last year. The LX 470
also recorded its best-ever sales month with 1,512 units, an increase of 59.3
percent over last May. The ES 300 led Lexus passenger car sales with 4,737
units, an increase of 17.7 percent, while the GS 300 sport sedan recorded
2,431 sales, an increase of 17.6 percent.
Sales of North American-built vehicles made up 64.0 percent of total May
sales, up from 62.8 percent the previous year.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
MAY, 1999
-- CURRENT MONTH -- -- CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE --
DSR % DSR %
1999 1998 CHG 1999 1998 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE SALES 142,625 136,274 4.7 585,000 518,223 12.9
Memo: Total
Toyota Div. 124,515 121,654 2.4 510,212 462,717 10.3
Memo: Total
Lexus Div. 18,110 14,620 23.9 74,788 55,506 34.7
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
CAR 12,978 17,069 -24.0 58,251 55,829 4.3
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 9,904 9,354 5.9 40,862 43,784 -6.7
TOYOTA DIV NA
BUILT CARS 65,817 63,274 4.0 262,478 231,426 13.4
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 88,699 89,697 -1.1 361,591 331,039 9.2
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 28,460 23,475 21.2 116,207 90,052 29.0
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 8,206 5,266 55.8 33,926 11,722 189.4
SMALL VANS 9,768 7,684 27.1 40,317 31,928 26.3
PICKUPS 15,698 15,418 1.8 66,885 65,204 2.6
* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 26,411 27,783 -4.9 105,040 101,702 3.3
CAMRY 33,832 28,163 20.1 132,639 98,263 35.0
AVALON 5,574 7,328 -23.9 24,799 31,461 -21.2
SIENNA 9,768 7,671 27.3 40,317 31,855 26.6
PICKUP 15,688 14,642 7.1 66,687 61,297 8.8
TOTAL 91,273 85,587 6.6 369,482 324,578 13.8
N.A. VEHICLES %
OF TOTAL 64.0% 62.8% 63.2% 62.6%
SELLING DAYS 25 25 127 127
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE