Toyota Reports August Sales
4 September 2000
Toyota Reports Best-Ever August Sales and Breaks The One-Million Sales Mark
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 1 Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc., reported today that August marks the first time in its 43-year
history in the U.S. that the company has surpassed the one-million sales mark
before the end of the third quarter. Toyota's Lexus Division also reports
that August is the first time an import luxury brand has surpassed 20,000
units sold in a single month.
Toyota enjoyed best-ever August sales of 148,229 units, an increase of 6.1
percent over last August. Calendar-year-to-date (CYTD) sales stand at
1,096,978, an increase of 11.2 percent over the same period last year.
"We've seen no evidence of a slow-down in what is, obviously, a very
competitive buyer's market," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice president.
"Consumers remain confident and motivated. They know what they want and they
are shopping the best deal."
Both TMS sales divisions posted impressive sales compared to last August.
The Toyota Division recorded sales of 126,949 units, up 4.1 percent while the
Lexus Division posted record-breaking sales with 21,280 units, an increase of
20.0 percent over the same period last year.
The Toyota Avalon full-size sedan posted best-ever August sales of 9,256,
an increase of 84.9 percent. ECHO subcompact sedan sales hold steady with
4,720 units sold. The Celica sport coupe and MR2 Spyder continued to post
strong sales with 4,981 and 771 units sold, respectively. Prius, the world's
first mass-produced gasoline/electric hybrid sedan, continues to charge ahead
with 788 sales in August.
Toyota's best-ever August light truck sales were led by the Tundra
full-size pickup, with a record 10,288 units sold, an increase of 90.8 percent
over last August. The Sienna passenger van posted best-ever August sales with
9,256 units, an increase of 14.9 percent.
The Lexus Division's record-setting month saw both passenger car and light
truck sales breaking the 10,000-unit mark. Lexus passenger car sales were
fueled by the popular ES 300, with sales of 4,375 units, an increase of
8.1 percent over last year. The all-new IS 300 sport sedan sales continued to
soar with 2,998 units. Sales of RX 300 and LX 470 sport utility vehicles
climbed to 9,117 and 1,333 units, up 30.0 and 16.5 percent, respectively,
marking a best-ever sales month for Lexus light trucks.
Sales of North American-built vehicles made up 59.6 percent of total
August sales. There were 27 selling days compared to 26 last August.
TOYOTA/LEXUS SALES
AUGUST, 2000
CURRENT MONTH CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE
DSR % DSR %
2000 1999 CHG 2000 1999 CHG
TOTAL VEHICLE
SALES 148,229 134,504 6.1 1,096,978 981,734 11.2
Memo: Total
Toyota Div. 126,949 117,433 4.1 964,417 857,740 11.9
Memo: Total
Lexus Div. 21,280 17,071 20.0 132,561 123,994 6.4
TOYOTA DIV.
IMPORT CAR 22,225 12,984 64.8 166,661 91,834 80.6
LEXUS IMPORT CAR 10,830 9,215 13.2 61,747 67,172 -8.5
TOYOTA DIV NA
BUILT CARS 55,562 58,650 -8.8 438,808 436,432 0.1
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS 88,617 80,849 5.5 667,216 595,438 11.5
SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES 26,770 25,927 -0.6 190,486 194,644 -2.6
Memo: Lexus
Sport Utility 10,450 7,856 28.1 70,814 56,822 24.0
SMALL VANS 9,256 7,758 14.9 74,376 64,819 14.2
PICKUPS 23,586 19,970 13.7 164,900 126,833 29.4
* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA 20,114 24,013 -19.3 161,904 174,197 -7.5
CAMRY 26,192 29,816 -15.4 203,799 223,230 -9.1
AVALON 9,256 4,821 84.9 73,105 39,005 86.5
SIENNA 9,256 7,758 14.9 74,375 64,819 14.2
PICKUP 23,586 19,968 13.7 164,891 126,617 29.6
TOTAL 88,404 86,376 -1.4 678,074 627,868 7.5
N.A. VEHICLES %
OF TOTAL 59.6% 64.2% 61.8% 64.0%
SELLING DAYS 27 26 206 205
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE