Toyota Sets Sales Record For Fourth Year In A Row
5 January 2000
Toyota Sets Sales Record For Fourth Year In A Row -- Camry Number-One Selling Car for Third Straight Year
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 4 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A.,
Inc., today reported best-ever year-end total sales of 1,475,441 vehicles, up
8.4 percent over the previous record of 1,361,025 set last year.
1999 marks the tenth consecutive year that Toyota sold more than one
million cars and trucks, and the fourth year-in-a-row that TMS set a total
year-end sales record. It also was the third straight year that the Toyota
Camry earned the title of best-selling car in America, posting total sales of
448,162 units, up 4.3 percent over 1998.
"No one could have predicted such a monster year, nor anticipated the
sustained strength of consumer confidence that fueled the economy," said Jim
Press, TMS executive vice president. "Every indicator points to a
leveling-off in early 2000. But, of course, that's what we all said last
year."
Toyota Division's year-end total of 1,289,551 vehicles, up 7.0 percent,
marked the sixth consecutive year that the Toyota Division alone has topped
one million units. Toyota Division passenger cars and light trucks reported
best-ever annual sales of 792,311 and 497,240 respectively.
The redesigned Avalon, launched last October, posted its best-ever sales
month with 8,387 units sold in December, up 45.1 percent over the same period
last year. Another all-new vehicle, the ECHO subcompact sedan, recorded its
strongest sales month to date with 3,932, for a three-month total of 10,490
sales.
The seventh-generation Celica, also launched this past October, recorded
sales of 3,956 units, up 839.7 percent. Celica sales totaled 16,418, up 282.7
percent for the year.
Toyota Division light trucks posted December sales of 40,314, an increase
of 3.5 percent. The Sienna enjoyed the best-ever December sales month and
best-ever year of any minivan in Toyota's history with sales of 8,108 for the
month, up 4.6 percent, and 98,809 sales for the year, up 21.4 percent compared
to the old record set last year.
The Toyota Land Cruiser full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) posted 1,853
sales for the month, up 19.9 percent, marking its best-ever sales month, and
its best-ever year-end sales of 18,602, up 29.8 percent. The 4Runner mid-size
SUV was Toyota's top-selling SUV in 1999 with total year-end sales of 124,221,
an increase of 4.8 percent over last year.
The Tundra full-size pickup closed out a successful debut year with strong
December sales of 6,777, bringing its year-end six-month total to 42,769.
Toyota compact trucks recorded year-end sales of 155,476 units, up 1.8 percent
over last year.
The Lexus Division posted best-ever December and year-end sales. For the
month, Lexus recorded 16,865 sales, up 0.1 percent, marking the division's
24th consecutive monthly sales record. Year-end Lexus sales totaled 185,890,
an increase of 19.0 percent over last year.
The Lexus Division's record sales were sparked by best-ever monthly and
year-end light truck sales. The RX 300 mid-size luxury SUV led the way,
posting its best-ever sales month with 7,834 units sold, up 37.5 percent and
best-ever year-end sales with 73,498, up 74.2 percent over last year. The
LX 470 full-size luxury SUV also posted best-ever month and year-end sales
with December sales of 1,692, up 16.0 percent and year-end sales of 15,734, an
increase of 43.0 percent over last year.
Total Toyota sales of North American-built vehicles totaled 934,375,
representing 63.3 percent of total vehicles sold in 1999. There were
307 selling days in 1999, which equals the number in 1998.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
DECEMBER, 1999
CURRENT MONTH CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE
DSR % DSR %
1999 1998 CHG 1999 1998 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE
SALES 122,020 138,720 -12.0 1,475,441 1,361,025 8.4
Memo: Total
Toyota Div. 105,155 121,871 -13.7 1,289,551 1,204,765 7.0
Memo: Total
Lexus Div. 16,865 16,849 0.1 185,890 156,260 19.0
TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
CAR 18,962 15,507 22.3 154,990 141,390 9.6
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 7,339 9,695 -24.3 96,658 103,065 -6.2
TOYOTA DIV NA
BUILT CARS 45,879 67,415 -31.9 637,321 623,359 2.2
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 72,180 92,617 -22.1 888,969 867,814 2.4
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 24,658 25,252 -2.4 289,193 250,996 15.2
Memo: Lexus Sport
Utility 9,526 7,154 33.2 89,232 53,195 67.7
SMALL VANS 8,108 7,750 4.6 98,809 81,486 21.3
PICKUPS 17,074 13,101 30.3 198,470 160,729 23.5
* NORTH AMERICAN
BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 18,533 21,620 -14.3 249,127 250,499 -0.5
CAMRY 18,959 40,016 -52.6 320,156 295,108 8.5
AVALON 8,387 5,779 45.1 68,038 77,752 -12.5
SIENNA 8,108 7,749 4.6 98,809 81,391 21.4
PICKUP 17,069 12,929 32.0 198,245 152,770 29.8
TOTAL 71,056 88,093 -19.3 934,375 857,520 9.0
N.A. VEHICLES %
OF TOTAL 58.2% 63.5% 63.3% 63.0%
SELLING DAYS 26 26 307 307
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE