Toyota will also introduce a new national advertising campaign during President’s Day weekend entitled “#1 for a Reason.”
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A. today reported January sales results of 115,856 units, an increase of 17% from January 2009, basically tracking with an industry increase of 17%, according to Autodata. The Toyota Division posted January sales of 102,996 units, an increase of 23.7% over the same period last year. The Lexus Division reported sales of 12,860 units, a decrease of 17.1% from last January.
Toyota also announced it was continuing a variety of national and regional sales incentives introduced last December through March of 2011.
“Our intent is to lead the market in incentives,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. This is a distinct departure from past practices at the largest Japanese automaker operating in the U.S.
Toyota will also introduce a new national advertising campaign during President’s Day weekend entitled “#1 for a Reason.” This includes rebates and 0% financing for 60 months across most of Toyota’s core vehicles. As an example there is now $500 cash for the aging Camry – due for replacement late this year – and 0% financing. There will also be loyalty direct marketing program that will provide an additional $500 rebate to current owners.
“Loyalty and conquest rates have returned to historical pre-recall levels,” Carter said, who went on to say Toyota intends to grow at greater than market rates this year, thus flinging the gauntlet at Chevrolet and Ford executives whose brands surpassed Toyota brand in U.S. sales last year.
Toyota was alone among major makers to post flat sales in 2010 as the market grew 11%. It was the most challenging time in the 53-year history of Toyota’s U.S. sales arm. Toyota stopped new vehicle sales in January 2010 to conduct reputation damaging recalls for stuck gas pedals and unintended acceleration safety defects.
Based on preliminary January results, some automakers now appear to be diverging from the recent and almost universal discipline of decreasing incentives as the market slowly recovers.
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded sales of 56,270 units, up 14.7% over last January. Passenger car sales were led by Corolla with sales of 20,581 units for the month, up 20.2% from last January. Camry and Camry Hybrid posted combined January sales of 18,145 units, an increase of 14.9% year-over-year. The Prius mid-size hybrid posted January sales of 10,635 units, up 25.4% over last, as the usually capacity-constrained efficiency champion, benefitted from the end of Japanese market sales incentives, as now excess cars were shipped to the U.S.
Toyota Division light trucks had January sales of 46,726 units, an increase of 36.5% year-over-year. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact SUV, which recorded monthly sales of 11,196, an increase of 41.8% over last January. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 7,507 units for the month, up 67.6% year-over-year. The 4Runner mid-size SUV reported sales of 3,829 units, an increase of 27.4% over the year-ago. The Tacoma mid-size pickup posted sales of 7,140 units for the month, up 5.8% over last January. The Tundra full-size pickup posted sales of 6,087 units, up 55.9%.
Scion posted January sales of 3,275 units, an increase of 7.9% year-over-year. The TC sports coupe led the way with sales of 1,351 units, up 57.5% over last January. The XB urban utility vehicle posted January sales of 1,298 units, down 6%. The XD reported sales of 791 units, -21%.
Lexus reported passenger car sales of 5,561 units, down 30.6% over the year-ago month. The entry luxury sedan ES led Lexus passenger car sales with sales of 2,215 units, -24%. The IS luxury sports sedan reported combined sales of 1,992 units, down 9%. LS was at 734 was off 39%. SC at 7 was off 71%. GS at 323, -39% IS at 1,992 was off 10%.
Lexus light trucks recorded sales of 7,299 units, down 2.7% from last January. Lexus light truck sales were led by the RX, which posted combined January sales of 5,881 units, up 3.4% over the year-ago month. The GX mid-size luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,135 units.
TMS Hybrids posted January sales of 13,409 vehicles. Toyota Division posted sales of 12,184 hybrids for the month. Lexus Division reported sales 1,225 hybrids in January
