Toyota Starts Summer Clearance Sale A Month Early To Move Excess Inventory

Toyota Division will start its annual summer clearance sale in July instead of counting on its traditional August blowout.

Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter said the decision had been planned for months because this year's July covers five weekends, including a three-day weekend over the Independence Day holiday. U.S. sales of the recall-tarnished brand rose 8 percent in June, while its share for the first half fell to 12.8 percent from 13.6 percent a year earlier.

Carter said Toyota will not increase its incentives from present levels, but the automaker will boost national, regional and retail advertising.