Toyota Continues Year-Long Sales Surge With Best-Ever August
2 September 1999
Toyota Continues Year-Long Sales Surge With Best-Ever August And Fifth Consecutive Monthly Sales Record
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 1 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc., today reported best-ever August sales of 134,504 vehicles, an
increase of 2.8 percent over last August, marking Toyota's fifth consecutive
month of record-setting sales. Calendar-year-to-date (CYTD) sales total
981,734, an increase of 93,094 units, or 10.5 percent, compared to the same
period last year.
"Toyota's string of five consecutive monthly sales records reflects both
the mood of consumers and the strength of the economy," said Jim Press, TMS
executive vice president. "Industry sales are expected to cool down, but it's
just taking longer than anticipated."
Both TMS sales divisions increased sales over the same period last year.
The Toyota Division recorded sales of 117,433 units, up 3.1 percent over last
August. The Lexus Division posted best-ever August sales of 17,071, up 0.7
percent over the previous mark set last year.
Camry, America's best-selling passenger car, led the sales charge with
best-ever August sales of 42,624, an increase of 5.1 percent. Year-to-date
Camry sales are 15.2 percent ahead of last year's record sales pace. The
popular Corolla compact sedan posted healthy sales of 24,013 units, an
increase of 1.8 percent over the same period last year.
Toyota Division light trucks recorded best-ever August sales with 45,799
units, an increase of 9.8 percent. The all-new Tundra full-size pickup
continued its strong debut with 5,193 sales, bringing its three-month sales
total to 17,011. The Sienna minivan posted a best-ever August with sales of
7,758, up 4.5 percent over the same period last year. The 4Runner SUV
recorded strong sales of 11,132, an increase of 6.4 percent over last August
and the Land Cruiser SUV recorded 1,467 sales, up 6.6 percent.
The Lexus Division's record-setting August was led by the RX 300 SUV which
recorded its all-time best-ever sales month with 6,754 units sold, an increase
of 23.8 percent over the same period last year. The LS 400 luxury sedan also
chipped in with 2,302 sales, up 10.7 percent over last year.
Sales of North American-built vehicles made up 64.2 percent of total
August sales, up from 61.5 percent the previous year.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
AUGUST, 1999
CURRENT MONTH CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE
DSR % DSR %
1999 1998 CHG 1999 1998 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE SALES 134,504 130,814 2.8 981,734 888,640 10.5
Memo: Total Toyota
Div. 117,433 113,865 3.1 857,740 788,640 8.8
Memo: Total Lexus
Div. 17,071 16,949 0.7 123,994 100,000 24.0
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
CAR 12,984 14,762 -12.0 91,834 98,752 -7.0
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 9,215 10,194 -9.6 67,172 70,425 -4.6
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT
CARS 58,650 57,409 2.2 436,432 400,260 9.0
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 80,849 82,365 -1.8 595,438 569,437 4.6
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 25,927 24,526 5.7 194,644 157,269 23.8
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 7,856 6,755 16.3 56,822 29,575 92.1
SMALL VANS 7,758 7,424 4.5 64,819 52,393 23.7
PICKUPS 19,970 16,499 21.0 126,833 109,541 15.8
* NORTH AMERICAN
BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 24,013 23,579 1.8 174,197 171,649 1.5
CAMRY 29,816 26,438 12.8 223,230 176,577 26.4
AVALON 4,821 7,392 -34.8 39,005 52,034 -25.0
SIENNA 7,758 7,421 4.5 64,819 52,309 23.9
PICKUP 19,968 15,582 28.1 126,617 103,305 22.6
TOTAL 86,376 80,412 7.4 627,868 555,874 13.0
N.A. VEHICLES %
OF TOTAL 64.2% 61.5% 64.0% 62.6%
SELLING DAYS 26 26 205 205
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE