Toyota Reports Best-Ever March Sales and Record-Breaking First Quarter
4 April 2000
Toyota Reports Best-Ever March Sales and Record-Breaking First Quarter
TORRANCE, Calif., April 3 Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc., today reported best-ever March sales of 140,393 vehicles, an
increase of 16.0 percent over last year. The strong sales month closed out a
record-breaking first quarter that totaled 396,374 units, an increase of
20.9 percent over the same period last year.
"It's March madness," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice-president.
"Consumers closed out the first-quarter with a fast-break buying spree,
extending the industry's string of record-breaking months into overtime."
Both TMS sales divisions recorded best-ever March sales. The Toyota
Division posted best-ever March sales of 123,683 units, an increase of
17.6 percent over last year. The Lexus Division enjoyed best-ever March sales
of 16,710 units, up 5.6 percent over last year.
Toyota passenger cars enjoyed best-ever March sales of 78,250 units, an
increase of 19.0 percent over the same period last year. The redesigned
Avalon, launched last October, recorded its second consecutive best-ever sales
month with 9,942 units, an increase of 89.0 percent. Two additional vehicles
launched last October, the all-new Celica sport coupe, and ECHO subcompact,
continued to post strong sales with 5,370 and 4,888 units, respectively. The
Corolla recorded sales of 21,154 units, an increase of 1.8 units over the same
period last year.
The all-new MR2 Spyder roadster jumped out of the starting gate with
820 units sold in its first week on sale.
Toyota Division light truck sales tallied a best-ever March of
45,433 units, up 15.3 percent from last year. The popular Sienna minivan
posted best-ever March sales with 9,363 units, an increase of 5.4 percent.
The Tundra full-size pickup established its best-ever sales month since its
launch last summer, with 8,302 units.
The Lexus Division's record-setting March was fueled by the hot-selling RX
300 sport utility vehicle (SUV), with best-ever March sales of 7,644 units, an
increase of 30.4 percent. The LX 470 luxury SUV also posted best-ever March
sales of 1,493, up 4.8 percent. The GS 300 performance sedan sold
2,087 units, up 1.1 percent over the same period last year.
Sales of North American-built vehicles accounted for 62.0 percent of total
March sales.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
MARCH, 2000
-- CURRENT MONTH -- -- CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE --
DSR % DSR %
2000 1999 CHG 2000 1999 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE
SALES 140,393 120,982 16.0 396,374 323,507 20.9
Memo: Total
Toyota Div. 123,683 105,158 17.6 351,581 282,191 23.0
Memo: Total
Lexus Div. 16,710 15,824 5.6 44,793 41,316 7.0
TOYOTA DIV.
IMPORT CAR 21,916 11,335 93.3 65,163 34,043 88.9
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 7,573 8,540 -11.3 19,700 22,532 -13.7
TOYOTA DIV NA
BUILT CARS 56,334 54,408 3.5 158,745 143,031 9.5
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 85,823 74,283 15.5 243,608 199,606 20.5
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 24,348 23,783 2.4 69,280 64,300 6.3
Memo: Lexus
Sport Utility 9,137 7,284 25.4 25,093 18,784 31.9
SMALL VANS 9,363 8,885 5.4 25,344 21,598 15.8
PICKUPS 20,859 14,031 48.7 58,142 38,003 51.0
* NORTH AMERICAN
BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 21,154 20,787 1.8 58,720 57,876 0.1
CAMRY 25,238 28,361 -11.0 72,882 70,979 1.3
AVALON 9,942 5,260 89.0 27,143 14,176 89.0
SIENNA 9,363 8,885 5.4 25,344 21,598 15.8
PICKUP 20,858 14,005 48.9 58,136 37,829 51.7
TOTAL 86,555 77,298 12.0 242,225 202,458 18.1
N.A. VEHICLES
% OF TOTAL 61.7% 63.9% 61.1% 62.6%
SELLING DAYS 27 27 77 76
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE