Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported month-end sales of 132,802 vehicles, a decrease of 36.6 percent from last March, on a daily selling rate basis.
The Toyota Division posted March sales of 118,563 units, a decrease of 36.0 percent from the same period last year. The Lexus Division reported March sales of 14,239 units, a decrease of 40.6 percent from the year-ago month.
With month-over-month sales comparisons providing a more realistic indication of current market conditions than year-ago levels, TMS sales posted a 16.3 percent increase over February 2009.
Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded March sales of 73,385 units, down 33.6 percent from the same period last year, but up 19.1 percent over February 2009. Featuring a new engine and refreshed styling, Camry and Camry Hybrid remained Toyota’s volume leader in March, posting combined monthly sales of 25,783 units. Corolla recorded sales of 22,257 units. Yaris reported sales of 5,888 units for the month. The Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid posted March sales of 8,924 units.
Toyota Division light trucks posted March sales of 45,178 units, down 39.7 percent from the year-ago month, but up 15.3 percent over February 2009. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact SUV with sales of 11,899 units. The Tacoma mid-size pickup reported sales of 9,444 units for the month. The Tundra full-size pickup recorded March sales of 5,547 units. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 5,404 units.
Scion posted March sales of 4,663 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with sales of 2,090 units. The tC sports coupe recorded sales of 1,545 units. The xD reported sales of 1,027 units for the month.
Lexus Division
Lexus passenger cars reported March sales of 7,212 units, a decrease of 49.6 percent from March 2008, but up 13.6 percent over the prior month. Passenger car sales were led by the ES entry luxury sedan with March sales of 3,225 units. The IS entry luxury sport sedan posted combined sales of 2,432 units. The LS flagship luxury sedan recorded combined sales of 852 units. The GS luxury sport sedan reported combined March sales of 625 units.
Lexus Division light trucks recorded March sales of 7,027 units, down 27.3 percent from the year-ago month. Lexus sales were led by the RX luxury utility vehicle, which posted combined March sales of 6,177 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,165 units for the month.
TMS Hybrids
TMS posted March sales of 13,747 hybrid vehicles. Toyota Division recorded sales of 12,515 hybrids for the month. Lexus Division reported March sales of 1,232 hybrids.
In response to the changing sales climate, recent efforts to right-size production and inventory levels proved effective, with total TMS inventory down 26.6 percent in the first quarter.
| 
|