Toyota Continues Downward Slide -6.3% Lexus -9.3% In February

"Spurred in part by rising fuel prices, Toyota’s fuel-efficient models and hybrids, the mainstay of our lineup, continue to show strength," said TMS President Jim Lentz.

The Toyota Division posted February sales of 160,892, a decrease of 6.3 percent from last February. The Lexus Division reported February sales of 21,277 units, a decrease of 9.3 percent from the year-ago month.

Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded February sales of 89,723 units, down 7.3 percent from last February. Passenger-car sales were led by Camry, which posted best-ever February sales of 34,914, an increase of 4.3 percent over the same period last year. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 4,121 units in February, up 19 percent over February 2007. The Prius hybrid gas-electric mid-size sedan posted February sales of 10,895, a decrease of 14.5 percent from last February. Yaris reported best-ever February sales of 9,758 units, up 64.3 percent over the year-ago month.

Toyota Division light truck sales were down 4.9 percent, with February sales of 71,169 units. Light truck sales were led by the Tundra full-size pickup with best-ever February sales of 14,400, an increase of 43 percent over last February. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 10,513 in February, up 7.7 percent over the year-ago month. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 1,938 units for the month. Sequoia posted sales of 2,617 units for the month, up 8.7 percent over the same period last year.

Scion posted February sales of 8,883 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with February sales of 3,824 units, an increase of 28 percent over last February. The tC sports coupe, entering its fourth model year, posted February sales of 3,261 units.

Lexus Division
Lexus passenger cars reported February sales of 12,203 units, a decrease of 13.2 percent from February 2007. Passenger-car sales were led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with February sales of 4,795 units. The IS 250/350 luxury sport sedan reported sales of 3,906 units, including 208 units sold of the all-new IS F luxury performance sedan. The LS 460/460 L and new LS 600h L luxury sedans reported combined sales of 1,891 units. The LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan posted sales of 112 units for the month. The GS 350 luxury sport sedan had sales of 1,201 units, while the GS 460/450h posted combined sales of 221 units, an increase of 21.2 percent.

Lexus Division light trucks reported February sales totaling 9,074 units, a decrease of 3.5 percent from the year-ago month. The all-new LX 570 enjoyed sales of 569 units, an increase of 103.1 percent. The RX 350 and RX 400h posted combined February sales of 6,956 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,148 units for the month.

TMS Hybrids
TMS posted February sales of 18,289 hybrid vehicles, a decrease of seven percent from last February. Toyota Division posted sales of 16,952 hybrids while Lexus Division posted sales of 1,337 hybrids.

Htay7500 - 3/3/2008 2:34:02 PM

+13 Boost

new versions of what?

ThierryHenry14 - 3/3/2008 3:04:12 PM

+13 Boost

IS, GS, ES, LS all refreshed within the past 2-3 years. Those are the bread and butter of their lineup. The RX is the only volume car that is aged. LX just came out.

Bad excuse there buddy...

farabira1 - 3/4/2008 1:37:50 PM

0 Boost

BMW, Audi, continue to slide downward as well.

BMW –10.5% at 20,775 (2/07: 22,274)
Audi –10.6% at 6,152 (2/07: 6,609)

and for comparison Lexus seems to have done better than either of the german marques

Lexus –9.3% at 21,277 (2/07: 22,518)

LexSucks - 3/4/2008 3:18:08 PM

+1 Boost

BMW is -6.7%.

LexSucks - 3/4/2008 3:20:32 PM

+1 Boost

fastonekiller,

Can you tell me what you are basing this on?

farabira1 - 3/5/2008 10:00:06 AM

+1 Boost

"LexSucks"

Please check your figures again.

the -6.7% fall is for BMW Group as a whole,

for BMW motors only the slide is -10.5%.

Clearly you don't seem to be good enough to know the difference. Got some brain, or are you empty skulled.

american_made - 3/3/2008 2:54:51 PM

+8 Boost

Agreed... Lexus is for sure a Toyota with leather, and riding and driving one feels cheap

autopro - 3/3/2008 3:42:49 PM

-11 Boost

Lexus crap out sell Bmw crap every month,month after month after month,after month,after month,after month.

Targa - 3/3/2008 3:47:00 PM

+7 Boost

ummm no it doesn't....... not even close

Occarnut - 3/3/2008 3:03:30 PM

+7 Boost

I guess that this is what happens when your brands become synonymous with slow driving, left lane hogging Camry, RAV4 and RX drivers.

ThierryHenry14 - 3/3/2008 3:06:16 PM

+6 Boost

well, slowing economy hits people looking for a "bargain", and compared to some luxury makes, Toyota/Lexus sells more on bargain than anything, compared to comparable cars.

autopro - 3/3/2008 3:46:43 PM

-6 Boost

Mercedes and Bmw are offerint the biggest incentives in the market.When Lexus jumps into the incentive game look out,they could buy the whole market.

1970toyotamarc - 3/3/2008 4:52:40 PM

-3 Boost

I guess thats why BMW sales were up so much each of the last 2 months, huh.

JUGNU - 3/3/2008 3:30:01 PM

-10 Boost

What is happening to US Auto Market.

Here in Middle East Toyota and especially Lexus are enjoying record breaking sales.

JUGNU

ThierryHenry14 - 3/3/2008 4:49:42 PM

+9 Boost

theres a big difference between emerging markets and mature markets. Any product will do well in emerging markets, as compared to mature markets. Its simple market-product life cycle.

answer - 3/3/2008 4:05:11 PM

+3 Boost

Remotely negative Lexus story

+

Ignorant anti-Lexus fanboys

=

Pure comedic gold!!!

Enter EL34 in 5..4..3..2..

autopro - 3/3/2008 6:44:02 PM

-3 Boost

Lexus feb 08 21,277
Mercedes feb 08 18,564
Who's your daddy now!!!!!!!!

enthusiastx11 - 3/4/2008 12:09:40 AM

+6 Boost

"Best selling brand in the US and soon in the world."

huh? bmw worldwide sales approx 1.5MM+. lexus worldwide sales 400k+.

do explain.

no1listensanyway - 3/3/2008 4:28:28 PM

+7 Boost

Toyota, oh how you have changed. tsk tsk.

BozzorTheGreat - 3/3/2008 4:48:32 PM

+9 Boost

This data is wrong: Toyota sales fell 2.8%.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200803031413DOWJONESDJONLINE000758_FORTUNE5.htm

There is no doubt that Toyota had an awful month, except for the Camry which continues to dominate. It has fallen off in quality recently and the Lexus RX - its mainstay in the US - is long in the tooth and needs to be replaced. The new LX570/Landcruiser seems to have issues with braking to boot, there are real quality issues with the GS and the Tundra is being hit hard by rising fuel costs...

Come on Toyota, make sure this is just a hiccup and not the start of a trend...

1970toyotamarc - 3/3/2008 4:54:58 PM

-6 Boost

An awful month? They lost 7000 Corolla sales due to a model changeover. That alone would have allowed them to increase over last year.

It wasnt good, but awful? c'mon.

Agent009 - 3/3/2008 8:19:53 PM

+8 Boost

This data came DIRECTLY from Toyota

LexusKindaGuy12 - 3/3/2008 4:52:10 PM

-6 Boost

the only reason why the lexus sales are falling, is because they were high before this. there isnt any other place to go but down during the US recession.

think about it.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 3/3/2008 4:52:32 PM

-6 Boost

plus new RX comes out next year, so obviously people hold out

LexusKindaGuy12 - 3/3/2008 4:55:17 PM

-8 Boost

lexus is also still outselling mercedes in the US. man, people need to look at the facts

ThierryHenry14 - 3/3/2008 5:20:22 PM

+2 Boost

Thats an excuse that could be used by any company, you know that right? during a recession, theres no where to go but down... thats very lame.

So I guess the US is the only car market in the world? I love the "last resort" defense: Lexus still outsells _________ in the US...

LexusKindaGuy12 - 3/3/2008 7:17:54 PM

-6 Boost

mercedes up or not, even with the increase of 7%, the total car sales is still below lexus. thats what im saying

there was a balloon increase in sales last year for lexus if you check back, so obviously, the balloon popped and sales are slowly going to come back down.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/3/2008 5:29:23 PM

+3 Boost

This is sad. Lexus has bigger and bigger decreases every month. Expect a 10% decline next month...

1970toyotamarc - 3/3/2008 7:13:35 PM

0 Boost

Sadly you are probably right. I cant imagine anything Lexus can do right now to stop the slide this year. New RX-the 2009 just came out, so it is at least a year away, New ES-refresh next year, but what substantive changes are really going to create a dramatic turnaround? LS sales were astronomical last year, no way that is sustainable. I know I am looking forward to the upcoming dedicated hybrid, but thats more than a year away. Maybe they have something planned for the 09 IS in the next few months.

(At least Lexus doesnt sugarcoat their press release with "just wait until" or "low inventory levels.")

Step it up Lexus, ur disappointing me.

tattedtwice - 3/3/2008 5:29:30 PM

+5 Boost

The results for lexus (and the excuses by their lovers) aren't surprising at all. History has showed once their newness has worn off, and its time for them to sell on their own merits, sales plummet.

At this rate they'll lose that oh-so precious to their fanboys title of best-selling in the US. Unless of course they rush out a new rx to pick up the slack.

answer - 3/3/2008 5:52:26 PM

-6 Boost

Funny.

Your first statement is true of most automotive brands and their models.

And your second statement? If Lexus where to lose that "oh-so precious" title you speak of, there would be plenty of people here(German only badge whores) ready and willing to wave it around proudly.

I wish people would see that the overzealous fans of Lexus are no worse nor better than their German counterparts.

tattedtwice - 3/3/2008 6:17:53 PM

+4 Boost

"Your first statement is true of most automotive brands and their models."
My point was, in this class of overacheivers, when your cars slide this fast (1-2.5 years), it shows their inability to sell on their own merits. Almost every other car in each class stays strong up until the last year.

"And your second statement? If Lexus where to lose that "oh-so precious" title you speak of, there would be plenty of people here(German only badge whores) ready and willing to wave it around proudly."
Doesn't matter to me, either way. But it will be good for chuckles when lexus freaks have to come up with something else silly to trumpet that matters to no one.

"I wish people would see that the overzealous fans of Lexus are no worse nor better than their German counterparts."
To you maybe; they're all annoying, but lexus freaks are far worse and frankly just sad people.

topneuro - 3/3/2008 5:46:16 PM

+2 Boost

Good time to buy a Lexus?
Wrong !!!
Lexus dealers are in denial, no cut in prices no incentive deals.
Toyota however will cook another “Firesale” any time soon.

1970toyotamarc - 3/3/2008 6:43:37 PM

-9 Boost

The Tundra is nipping at the heels of the GMC and even the Ram. It was only a few hundred units shy of the GMC last month, and that includes GMC lumping HD versions into total sales.

autopro - 3/3/2008 7:00:43 PM

-6 Boost

What does it tell you when LEXUS sales drop and mercedes goes up and Lexus still outsells them by over 2500 units? Bmw's numbers were down too @20,775 units.Lexus sales were off the hook last FEB,and they didn't have any good incentives like Mercedes and BMW who set high Residuals and low money factors to try to retain their market share.If the ecomony slows down more and the incentives heat up you can bet Lexus will kick some ass to keep from losing their lead.Game over boys,and I do mean boys.

BMW4me4ever - 3/3/2008 7:28:07 PM

-4 Boost

autopro ? game over for whom? BMW has the 1-series to debut in April, along with the new M3, the X6 in June & the diesels coming in the fall. I think Lexus is the one who the game is over for. We will wait and see. Lexus & BMW are the leaders in the luxury car market.

autopro - 3/3/2008 8:17:43 PM

-7 Boost

Lexus could buy BMW cash boy.They don't want to make waves,the goverment might want to put tarriffs on them again.

autopro - 3/3/2008 8:38:40 PM

-7 Boost

You guy's don't have a clue to how powerful this company is.They have about 150 billion in cash reserves,they are the bill gates of the auto industry.Luckey for you they believe in live and let live or they could put at least five fragile companies out of business right now.

enthusiastx11 - 3/4/2008 12:13:21 AM

+7 Boost

get in your camry and go away.

JUGNU - 3/4/2008 5:52:49 AM

0 Boost

"There is nothing left to replace"

OK there is nothing left to replace (actually there is GX, SC, RX) but there could be added a lot of models. Seeing that Lexus doesn't have good selling coupe/coupes like BMW got 3 coupe, Audi A5, MB CLK,CL/SL.

And then there could also be a new crossover. In this time when fuel prices are high and contineosly going up, expensive and not very fuel economical LX570 won't help the sales.

Therefore a new model can be added in the hot selling crossover segment, up or below RX.

and then there also several other possibilities like cabrios, station wagons, A, B, 1 series, A3 competitor...etc

In Lexus line-up there is room for so many models which can be added in different categories unlike competitors which are nearly full and there is no room for new models except replacements.

all in all i mean r u guys serious. U think Toyota/Lexus will just see sales decreasing and do nothing. They'll add more models than u have thought of and probably do a better business than all.

JUGNU

BMW4me4ever - 3/4/2008 10:43:59 AM

0 Boost

they have for 7 months in a row now. What has lexus done to try and turn it around? nothing ... Their bread and butter sedans were just redone in the last 2 years. By the time they introduce a new model it will be too late. This will be a rough year for Lexus.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 3/4/2008 11:30:38 AM

0 Boost

what exactly does too late mean?

lexus goes bankrupt? give me a break

XYZZ - 3/4/2008 8:17:37 AM

-1 Boost

"Toyota Division passenger cars recorded February sales of 89,723 units, down 7.3 percent from last February...sales were led by Camry, which posted best-ever February sales of 34,914, an increase of 4.3 percent ... Camry Hybrid reported sales of 4,121 units in February, up 19 percent... The Prius ...a decrease of 14.5 percent from last February. Yaris reported best-ever February sales of 9,758 units, up 64.3 percent over the year-ago month."



SEEMS TO ME CAR SALES FOR SOME models were CONSIDERABLY UP, but SOME WERE DOWN more, DRAGGING THE OVERALL AVERAGE TO -6.3%

the big UPS were camry hybrid, +19%, Yaris, +64%, scion xB +28%. biggest declines: Avalon, Corolla. scion tC and xA.


"Toyota Division light truck sales were down 4.9 percent, with February sales of 71,169 units. Light truck sales were led by the Tundra full-size pickup with best-ever February sales of 14,400, an increase of 43 percent over last February. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 10,513 in February, up 7.7 percent over the year-ago month. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 1,938 units for the month. Sequoia posted sales of 2,617 units for the month, up 8.7 percent over the same period last year.

Scion posted February sales of 8,883 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with February sales of 3,824 units, an increase of 28 percent over last February. The tC sports coupe, entering its fourth model year, posted February sales of 3,261 units.




THE WAY I READ IT, WHEN THEY GIVE JUST A FIGURE IN THE TEXT (VS. SPECIFYING A RATE OF INCREASE), THERE WAS A DROP IN SALES. (CHART HAS TOO SMALL PRINT TO READ COMFORTABLY, ON MY SMALL SCREEN)

THE TUNDRA IS STILL DOING SURPRISINGLY WELL-- +43%! -- WHEN THE SEGMENT OVERALL IS DOWN.

THE PRINT IS TOO SMALL AND ITS TOO LATE FOR MORE ANALYSIS TONITE. MORE LATER MAYBE.

jeeka715 - 3/4/2008 11:46:25 AM

+2 Boost

Seems the industry as a whole is pretty flat. There are shining stars (relatively speaking), but nothing like the last 2-3 years.... You know when Toyota\Lexus\Scion sales take a dip, the industry as a whole is in a slight decline.

enthusiastx11 - 3/4/2008 12:03:22 PM

-4 Boost

7 months of declining growth rates in a row. i guess lexus customers are finally starting to die off. uh oh.

JUGNU - 3/4/2008 12:23:53 PM

+5 Boost

u start counting for BMW, Audi...etc too. BTW BMW already down for 2 months in a row now and something similar with Audi.

i guess customers are finally starting to die off. uh oh.


JUGNU

XYZZ - 3/5/2008 4:32:49 AM

-1 Boost

i was sorta surprised there was such a drop for the Prius. you have given a very good reason. (another possibly being last Feb saw HUGE volume.)

it's also surprising the corolla dropped so much. maybe inventory was low, as the '09s had not arrived in volume yet? the new corolla IS STUNNING, and from reports drives a LOT better too. i predict once there is sufficient inventory, its sales will TAKE OFF.