Post by TonyV on Feb 2, 2010 15:16:09 GMT -5
Toyota sales plunge 16%
BY GREG GARDNER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Toyota reported its January sales fell 16% from a year earlier, after it stopped selling eight models Jan. 26 because of recalls related to reports of unintended acceleration.
Sales of its core Toyota division fell 19%, and were partially offset by a 5% increase of its Lexus luxury brand.
The eight models Toyota stopped selling last week accounted for more than 60% of dealers’ inventory, Toyota said in a news release. Dealers are waiting for a small steel shim with which they will begin to repair gas pedals on late models of RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia and Camry, which has been the best-selling passenger car in the U.S. for the last several years.
Sales of its Prius hybrid, which is not included in the last recall, rose 13% to 8,484. Sales of the Venza crossover, which also is not part of the recall, nearly tripled to 3,564. Toyota was gradually increasing production of the Venza a year ago.
Models that experienced the steepest declines were the Sienna minivan, down 60%, and the Sequoia SUV, down 59.5%. Toyota is introducing a redesigned Sienna this spring.
Sales of the three models in its youth-oriented Scion brand fell 23% from a year earlier.
Contact Greg Gardner: 313-222-8762 or ggardner@freepress.com
BY GREG GARDNER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Toyota reported its January sales fell 16% from a year earlier, after it stopped selling eight models Jan. 26 because of recalls related to reports of unintended acceleration.
Sales of its core Toyota division fell 19%, and were partially offset by a 5% increase of its Lexus luxury brand.
The eight models Toyota stopped selling last week accounted for more than 60% of dealers’ inventory, Toyota said in a news release. Dealers are waiting for a small steel shim with which they will begin to repair gas pedals on late models of RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia and Camry, which has been the best-selling passenger car in the U.S. for the last several years.
Sales of its Prius hybrid, which is not included in the last recall, rose 13% to 8,484. Sales of the Venza crossover, which also is not part of the recall, nearly tripled to 3,564. Toyota was gradually increasing production of the Venza a year ago.
Models that experienced the steepest declines were the Sienna minivan, down 60%, and the Sequoia SUV, down 59.5%. Toyota is introducing a redesigned Sienna this spring.
Sales of the three models in its youth-oriented Scion brand fell 23% from a year earlier.
Contact Greg Gardner: 313-222-8762 or ggardner@freepress.com
