spwolf

lol, no... its due to fantastic cars they have, not akward design.

btw, Lexus's overtook BMW this month... nice.

spwolf

not really, they need time... Introduction of several models at the same time is not good. They will struggle to meet ES350 supply for few months, then it will be time for GS and LS.

Toyota had best sales ever, however they have been hampered by inability to raise production of several key vehicles such as new Camry, Prius, Yaris and Rav4. Yet, Yaris did eat that Fit for breakfast, didnt it? :-).

LexusLuver

The SL-class is up, while SC and XLR sales are declining. I think the SC's styling is way off and is the reason it doesn't have tany of the staying power of the SL.

IMO the SC430 failed miserably as replacement to the SC300/SC400.

XeroK00L

You mean demand. Are those Lexus plants in Japan already at full capacity already though?Guess people prefer cute utes to mini minivans after all. Looks alone kill the Fit.

Gojirra99

1 June 2006




Combined sales of hybrids in the US in May reached a new peak of 23,554 units—1.1% higher than the previous record of 23,307 in August 2005. The sales volume was buoyed considerably by the first full-month sales of the new Camry hybrid, which posted more than 3,000 units.

Combined sales of hybrids were up 39% in May from May 2005, and up 9% from April 2006. By contrast, total light-duty vehicle (LDV) sales in the US dropped 0.7% in May 2006 from the prior year. Hybrids represented 1.6% of total LDV sales in May 2006.

Toyota maintained its strong leadership with Prius sales of 8,103 exceeding supply. The new Camry hybrid posted 3,032 units, representing 7% of all Camrys sold in the month. The Highlander hybrid SUV turned in another very strong month, with 3,755 units (34.7% of total Highlander sales).



The Lexus Rx 400h posted 2,006 units, or 21.5% of combined Rx 330/400h sales. The new luxury Lexus GS 450h turned in an incredibly strong performance, posting 294 units of the 516 combined GS 430/450h units sold—57% of the models’ sales.

Ford’s Escape and Mariner sales, while not as high as in April, came in at 2,862 units, representing 15% of the models’ sales. This is an increase in sales of 132% from May 2005.

Honda’s Civic Hybrid also posted strong May-to-May results with 2,890 units sold, an increase of 53% from the prior year and representing 10% of total Civic sales. The Accord hybrid turned in 520 units—1.4% of total Accord sales in May, and down 60% from May 2005. The Insight posted 92 units.


Hybrid sales as a component of total model sales.

XeroK00L

Wow I had no idea the Highlander hybrid is selling so well particularly relative to its gasoline counterpart. They never report hybrid sales separately.

And Honda says they have no plan for a CR-V hybrid because their "hybrid system is not suitable for use in heavy vehicles".

Gojirra99

CHERRY HILL, NJ UNITED STATES 04/04/2005

- May sales up 13 percent -
- Impreza and Forester sales up 18 percent -
- Total sales up 3 percent year-to-date -

CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today
reported its second best May sales month ever, with sales totaling 16,406
units, a 13 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Year-
to-date sales are also up 3 percent over last year.

Both the Subaru Impreza and Forester lines were up 18 percent, with the
Subaru Impreza posting 3,152 unit sales and Subaru Forester totaling 4,160
units for the month. The Subaru B9 Tribeca also recorded a strong 1,481
units for the month of May. The Subaru Legacy model line posted a total of
7,197 units, with Subaru Outback posting 5,065 units for the month. Subaru
Baja recorded 416 units in May.

For a complete sales chart and additional information about Subaru of
America, Inc. and Subaru vehicles, visit our media website at
http://www.media.subaru.com.

Gojirra99

BREA, Calif.--June 1, 2006--American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) today announced sales of 10,135 units in May -- representing an increase of 36 percent over May 2005, the best May sales in company history and the third consecutive month in which Suzuki reported sales above 10,000 units. Year-to-date sales, which total 47,443, are up 37 percent. Suzuki's monthly and quarterly records continue its recent sales momentum which included record sales of 82,101 in 2005 -- the best sales year in American Suzuki's 21-year history.

ASMC's growth was led by the sales of its Grand Vitara, which sold 2,358 units, an impressive 630 percent increase over last year's numbers. The top-selling Forenza family of vehicles also contributed to Suzuki's record month, with 4,961 units sold in May -- a 13 percent increase over 2005.

"Suzuki's record-setting sales in April and May, following the outstanding first quarter result, demonstrates Suzuki's positive sales momentum and puts us on-track to sustain our growth throughout 2006," said Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki's Automotive Operations. "With the increasing popularity of the 2006 Grand Vitara, the continuing sales strength of the Forenza models and the excitement surrounding the two new vehicles (all-new 2007 XL7 and all-new 2007 SX4) we plan to introduce later this year, American Suzuki will be in position for a successful sales effort this year."

Suzuki's expanding product line in the United States includes the media-acclaimed 2006 Grand Vitara, the popular Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon, the five-door Reno, the Aerio and Aerio SX, the Verona and the Suzuki XL-7, one of the most affordable seven-passenger SUVs sold in the United States.

In addition to the strong vehicle lineup, Suzuki automobiles feature America's #1 Warranty with its industry-leading 100,000-mile/7-year, zero-deductible, fully transferable limited powertrain warranty.

Gojirra99

Kia Motors posts 8.2% rise in overseas sales in May

- 75,474 Kia vehicles sold overseas in May

- Sales in Europe, North America and general market post 12%, 6.4%
and 5.1% year-on-year growth, respectively, in May



(SEOUL) June 1, 2006 -- Kia Motors Corporation announced today that its
overseas retail sales of passenger cars and light trucks in May 2006
recorded 75,474 units, representing an 8.2% year-on-year increase.

By region, Europe posted year-on-year sales growth of 12% in May with 28,834
units sold. Meanwhile, sales of Kia vehicles in North America and the
general market recorded 30,015 units (6.4% year-on-year increase) and 16,625
(5.1% year-on-year increase), respectively.

Cumulatively through the first five months of 2006, Kia's overseas sales
have risen by 6.2% year-on-year to reach 343,252 units, with Europe showing
the largest gain at 9.8%. Meanwhile, the general market and North America
have seen sales increase by 4.8% and 3.6%, respectively, from January to May
of this year.

So far in 2006, Kia's best selling model in export markets has been the
C-segment Cerato (also known as 'Spectra' in some markets) with 52,695 units
sold. Meanwhile, the popular Sorento mid-size SUV was close behind with
52,260 units sold. Other strong sellers so far in 2006 have been the
A-segment Picanto (50,233 units), Sportage compact SUV (43,644 units) and
B-segment Rio (43,503 units).

Jung-Moon Park, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors
Corporation, said, "Fresh off the successful world premiere of our
long-awaited all-new Carens compact MPV (to be named 'Rondo' in North
America) last month, customers around the globe are increasingly recognizing
that our highly competitive revamped vehicles offer an unbeatable package of
quality, performance, styling, functionality and value."

"And with upgraded versions of our C-segment Cerato (Spectra) and premium
Oprius sedan (Amanti), as well as a brand new model aimed at European
customers to be built at our recently completed factory in Slovakia, all
scheduled to be unveiled this year, Kia is poised to continue to win the
hearts of customers in foreseeable future," he added.



Editor's notes:

1) Figures do not include domestic sales and KD (knock down) exports
assembled at overseas plants including China.

2) "General market" includes the regions of Central & South America, Asia &
Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.

MSMLexIS

If toyota can keep camrys pace up they will sell more than 500,000 a year and the ES350 will break through 100,000 a year. But i guess those camry sales include the Solara. Thats alot of cars.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

But Lexus has 3 SUVs too.

And those MB E-class and S-class sales are huge!

True! Too bad as the new ML is way better than the old one. Way to go Alabama plant.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

You obviously haven't taken a good look at a GTI, a new Jetta or Passat. The interiors in particular are awesome and I really like the exterior of the new Passat. I also sat in Toureg and WOW what an interior. Mind you, should be for that price.

I'd probably take a GTI w/ DSG over an IS250 and pocket several Gs. The GTI has a more useful back seat and the hatchback and the DSG is awesome fun.

CHIS350

Sure they look OK and their interiors are OK, but they are poorly assembled and really don't offer much compared to models at lower price points.

That little GTI tops out at over $30K doesn't it?!

marshmallo

I saw this in the NY Times and man, Toyota is on a rolll...

"Toyota, the company causing the most trouble for Detroit, took a record 15.9 percent of the American market in May, when its sales rose 12.3 percent from 2005. For the second month in a row, it outsold DaimlerChrysler, including Chrysler and Mercedes, to rank as the third-biggest company in the United States.

Toyota trailed the No. 2 company, Ford Motor, by just 15,000 cars last month — equal to the number of Camry sedans it sells in nine days."


Full article follows :


Asian Cars Won 40% of Market Last Month

Article Tools Sponsored By
By MICHELINE MAYNARD and NICK BUNKLEY
Published: June 2, 2006

DETROIT, June 1 — Three decades ago, with fuel supplies running short and long gas lines around the corner, Asian cars won their first converts in the American market.

Now that average gas prices are flirting with $3 a gallon, consumers are rushing to them again.

Sales figures reported Thursday showed that Toyota, Honda and other Asian manufacturers claimed a record 40 percent of the American market in May, when sales of fuel-efficient vehicles like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Hyundai Sonata all rose 20 percent or more compared with May 2005.

For Detroit companies, which have continued to aggressively market their costly new sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks despite the high gas prices, market share last month dropped to 52.9 percent — their second-lowest in history.

It was their smallest level since last October, when sales plummeted after the companies stopped offering employee-discount promotions for all consumers.

Executives at Honda, which has long focused on fuel economy and does not sell any vehicles with engines bigger than six cylinders, said they expected to continue winning market share as long as gas prices stay high.

Honda reported an 11.4 percent increase in May, pushed by both the Civic and the new Fit, a subcompact that went on sale in April.

Richard Colliver, an executive vice president of American Honda, said the Fit is staying on showroom lots for an average of just eight days. Some dealers, he said, reported seeing customers follow delivery trucks into their showroom lots in hopes of nabbing a Fit — something that has not happened since the original Civic went on sale in the 1970's, he said.

"My feeling is that it's going to continue as people see what the price of gas is doing to their disposable income," Mr. Colliver said.

In all, industry sales for May dropped 4.6 percent compared with 2005, according to Ward's InfoBank. Car sales rose nearly 2 percent, but sales of S.U.V.'s, pickups and minivans fell 10.2 percent.

Toyota, the company causing the most trouble for Detroit, took a record 15.9 percent of the American market in May, when its sales rose 12.3 percent from 2005. For the second month in a row, it outsold DaimlerChrysler, including Chrysler and Mercedes, to rank as the third-biggest company in the United States.

Toyota trailed the No. 2 company, Ford Motor, by just 15,000 cars last month — equal to the number of Camry sedans it sells in nine days.

Over all, sales by General Motors fell 16 percent last month, in part, it said, because it has cut back on sales to rental car companies, which have been stronger than usual this year.

G.M. reported its first decline in sales of the new version of the Chevrolet Tahoe, which dropped 5.5 percent compared with 2005. G.M. has been banking on sales of its new S.U.V.'s and coming pickup trucks as the ballast for the turnaround plan it hopes will reverse its $10.6 billion 2005 loss.

S.U.V. sales also plunged at Ford, where overall sales dropped 6 percent. The compact Escape came only 18 vehicles shy of passing the Explorer, long the darling of Ford's sport utility lineup, as its most popular S.U.V.

Ford said its car sales climbed last month, thanks to vehicles such as the small Ford Focus and the midsize Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr sedans.

Like other retailers, G.M. and Ford Motor have begun offering gasoline discount cards as a come-on to customers of their big vehicles.

But the tactic may not sway many buyers, said Laura Ries, president of Ries & Ries, an Atlanta marketing firm. "People are looking at a bigger picture than a year's worth of gas," Ms. Ries said.

Detroit companies, she went on, had had only themselves to blame for missing consumers' shift to more economical vehicles.

"Hey, they had plenty of time to see this coming," she said. "Cheap fuel wasn't going to last forever, because nothing lasts forever."

Chrysler's sales dropped 14 percent in May compared with last year. It said it planned to emphasize its vehicles' fuel economy in ads that begin running this weekend. Commercials for Chrysler's minivans, for example, will note that they get 25 miles a gallon, rather than focusing more on promoting features like flexible seating configurations and rear-seat DVD players.

Even though gasoline prices spiked after Hurricane Katrina last year, Chrysler's executive vice president of sales, Gary Dilts, said buying habits were only now changing.

"This shift occurred pretty rapidly," Mr. Dilts said. "In March, this was not on the radar." But, he acknowledged, "the imports reacted a little quicker than we did" in promoting fuel efficiency.

G.M.'s chief sales analyst, Paul Ballew, said G.M. was not getting enough recognition for its vehicles' fuel economy. G.M., he said, makes more vehicles that get 30 miles a gallon than any other carmaker.

"By default, Honda and Toyota get credit in the minds of consumers on those attributes," he continued.

As well they should, said Mr. Colliver at Honda. "We've spent 36 years building our brand around fuel economy," he said.

On Thursday, Ford introduced a deal that offers no-interest financing and $1,000 worth of free gas to buyers of nearly all models. That is different from the G.M. plan, which is available on selected vehicles in California and Florida.

G.M. and Chrysler officials said they were evaluating Ford's program but would not say how they planned to respond.

"We feel that just jumping into this incentive flurry on a month-to-month basis is not consistent with where we want to go long term," said Mr. Ballew of G.M., which introduced the employee discount plan last summer to clear out big inventories of unsold cars.

Mr. Dilts indicated that Chrysler was considering some new discounts, however. "It's going to be a competitive summer. It's going to be a great time for a consumer to buy a car," he said.

GFerg

DETROIT, June 1 (Reuters) - The following are the 20
top-selling vehicles in the U.S. through May of 2006 as
reported by the auto makers.
Total sales of the top 20 vehicles fell 3.3 percent or
-82,106 units to 2,425,261.
Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked
by total units.


]RANK VEHICLE 2006 2005 '05 RANK % Chng
1 Ford F-Series pickup 334,725 335,269 1 -0.2
2 Chevy Silverado-C/K pickup 258,378 274,869 2 -6.0
3 Toyota Camry 177,090 178,890 3 -1.0
4 Toyota Corolla / Matrix 159,992 147,146 5 +8.7
5 Honda Accord 145,529 143,304 6 +1.6
6 Honda Civic 138,744 115,577 7 +20.0
7 Chevrolet Impala 114,014 107,181 9 +6.4
8 Dodge Ram P/U (pickup) 105,799 163,094 4 -35.1
9 Dodge Caravan 103,876 103,811 11 +0.1
10 Nissan Altima 102,785 108,237 8 -5.0
11 Chevrolet Cobalt 93,023 75,537 21 +23.1
12 Ford Taurus 83,287 92,879 12 -10.3
13 GMC Sierra pickup 80,957 87,210 14 -7.2
14 Ford Focus 80,559 82,963 17 -2.9
15 Ford Explorer 77,205 105,925 10 -27.1
16 Ford Escape 74,978 73,217 27 +2.4
17 Ford Econoline 74,876 75,721 20 -1.1
18 Chevrolet Malibu 74,384 83,118 16 -10.5
19 Honda Odyssey 72,941 71,878 22 +1.5
20 Ford Mustang 72,119 81,541 18 -11.6






Soon the Corolla will outsell the Camry.

What the hell happened to the Ram?!?! Talk about falling off. Its that lacking redesign IMO.