Spurred by the Cash for Clunkers program, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (TMS) announced a record period with August, 2009 sales reaching 142,529 passenger car deliveries, up 32.4 percent over the previous year. Sales of all Toyota branded vehicles, including trucks, was 225,088 representing a 10.5 percent increase over a year ago.
In a statement from Toyota, Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer for TMS said, “Toyota vehicles accounted for 19.4 percent of sales within the CARS program, but we estimate CARS-related Toyota sales account for 32.1 percent of total fuel savings for the CARS program, saving customers an estimated 31 million gallons of gas and over $77.5 million in fuel spending over the next year.”
The Toyota Division posted August sales of 202,196 units, an increase of 15.2 percent over the same period last year. The Lexus Division reported August sales of 22,892 units, a decrease of 18.8 percent from the year-ago month.
“In addition to increased sales, the CARS program provided tangible benefits to consumers, dealers and industry-related businesses, as well as state and local economies, in the form of sales tax and registration income,” said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer for TMS. “Toyota vehicles accounted for 19.4 percent of sales within the CARS program, but we estimate CARS-related Toyota sales account for 32.1 percent of total fuel savings for the CARS program, saving customers an estimated 31 million gallons of gas and over $77.5 million in fuel spending over the next year.”
Hybrids Grow In Numbers
TMS posted August sales of 24,191 hybrid vehicles, up 28.6 percent from the same period last year. Toyota Division recorded sales of 21,836 hybrids for the month. Lexus Division reported August sales of 2,355 hybrids.
Toyota Division Sales
The Toyota Division posted August sales of 202,196 units, an increase of 15.2 percent over the same period last year. The Lexus Division reported August sales of 22,892 units, a decrease of 18.8 percent from the year-ago month.
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded an all-time, best-ever month with sales of 142,529 units, up 32.4 percent over the same period last year. Camry and Camry Hybrid remained Toyota’s volume leader in August, and posted an all-time, best-ever month with combined monthly sales of 54,396 units, up 28.2 percent over August 2008. The Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid posted August sales of 18,886 units, up 45.7 percent from the year-ago month. Corolla recorded sales of 43,061 units, up 51.9 percent over last August. Yaris reported sales of 4,797units for the month.
Scion posted August sales of 10,727 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with sales of 4,588 units, up 3.0 percent over last August. The tC sports coupe recorded sales of 3,082 units. The xD reported sales of 3,057 units for the month, up 15.1 percent over the same period last year.
Lexus passenger cars reported August sales of 12,610 units, a decrease of 26.6 percent from August 2008. Passenger car sales were led by the ES entry luxury sedan with August sales of 5,629 units. The IS entry luxury sport sedan posted combined sales of 4,855 units.
Some in the nation were upset by figures like this, rallying against the United States government subsidizing sales of foreign-branded vehicles. Several people informally polled by the Examiner were disappointed that the program didn’t have a bias toward U.S.-branded vehicles.
Joseph Frakes said, “I wish they would have encouraged people to buy American. Our tax dollars are helping to subsidize foreign companies.”
Still, many can’t truly ascertain the parts or engineering content of their vehicle.
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