Toyota Falters In May, Sales Down 9.5% - Lexus Tanks By 10.1% For Month

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today reported May 2016 sales of 219,339 units, a decrease of 9.6 percent from May 2015 on a volume basis. With two fewer selling days in May 2016 compared to May 2015, sales were down 2.0 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis.

Toyota division posted May 2016 sales of 192,657 units, down 9.5 percent on a volume basis, and 2.0 percent on a DSR basis.

"Industry sales remain steady in May with the shift toward light trucks and SUVs continuing." said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager. "Mirroring that trend, Toyota division SUVs had a best-ever month, led by RAV4, Highlander and 4Runner.”

Lexus posted sales of 26,682 units, down 10.1 percent on a volume basis, and 2.6 percent on a DSR basis.

"May finished at a lower than ideal supply for our luxury utility vehicles, a sign of continued demand, though likely limiting our full sales potential,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “From the compact NX to the dramatically restyled RX and the off-road conquering GX & LX, our utility vehicle family continues to appeal to the preferences of U.S. consumers.”

May 2016 Highlights:

RAV4 sales rose 12 percent, with sales of 32,261 units, a best-ever May
4Runner sales of 10,352 up more than 21 percent; second consecutive month over 10,000 units
Land Cruiser up 31.3 percent
RX posts sales of 8,804 units, up more than 10 percent
Lexus saw total sedan sales increase more than 18 percent month-over-month
ES posts sales of 5,373 units, a month-over-month increase of 21 percent
LS sales up nearly 16 percent, with sales of more than 700 units

*Note: Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect unadjusted raw sales volume

asafianow - 6/1/2016 4:40:12 PM

-1 Boost

They had all their new models come out last year. There is nothing to incentivize customers at this point. The Germans have better looking, better handling alternatives.

cidflekken - 6/1/2016 6:23:42 PM

+2 Boost

"•Lexus saw total sedan sales increase more than 18 percent month-over-month"

Where? With the exception of the LS, not a single Lexus sedan showed an increase.

MDarringer - 6/1/2016 7:24:35 PM

0 Boost

With buyers trained to expect big sales in July and August some--in general--could be waiting for that inevitable sell down.

MJLFLBSA - 6/1/2016 8:09:33 PM

+3 Boost

The Germans have a very staid same old same old look so I am not so sure they look better. Perhaps, familiar? One requires a code sheet to figure out what year most BMW models are. Also, do not forget German depreciation. The S-Class drops $3,000 a month in the first year of ownership. Now that is value! If you like losing $36,000 of the $100,000 purchase price in twelve months, you must have more discretionary income than i do. Check it out!

MDarringer - 6/1/2016 8:56:18 PM

0 Boost

Typically, this is why people lease the Germans i.e. incentivization against the depreciation. That car then goes off lease and can become a CPO. So despite the depreciation, money can still be made readily.

USNA1999 - 6/2/2016 2:37:28 PM

+2 Boost

@MJLFLBSA what is your point? As we can see by worldwide and US numbers, customers at the "S" class price range don't seem to care about "depreciation". These individuals purchase these cars for a number of different reasons and probably have bigger pockets than all of us put together. Do you think yachts are an investment? But most wealthy individuals have one even though they don't make an economic sense. If you are buying a car at this price range and depreciation is a concern, maybe you cannot afford it in the first place.