Not even giants are impervious to the economy, tight credit, and lack of buyers. Toyota watched as its once mighty sales dropped 32.3 percent overall, with the Toyota brand falling 28.9 percent and Lexus down 33.4 percent compared to September 2007 (the latter two numbers were reported as adjusted sales stats). The Camry and Corolla both took 24 to 25 percent plunges, falling by 11k and 8k units respectively. The Yaris was approximately consistent at 5,700 units sold compared to 5,900 last September. The fuel-sipping media darling Prius dropped some 13 percent to 10,873 sales this month. As for Lexus, everything was down by double digit percentage points. The cash-cow ES350 (that’s the fancy Camry) was down a whopping 37 percent; the pathetic SC430 moved a laughable 129 units. On the truck side, business was worse. The Tundra died on the lots, with sales falling 60 percent. The crucial RAV-4 was down 28 percent, and the Highlander dropped a similar 30 percent. The only real good news: the Sienna stayed oddly consistent at just under 10k units this month, and the Sequoia increased about 1k units (for a still tiny total of 2,030). All of the Scions were also down by significant margins.
Not good …. not good at all. The Tundra is withering on the vine. The Camry numbers came as a real shock. I think this is the first time that the GM trio of Malibu/G6/Aura has ever outsold the Camry (35,882 vs. 29,486). The trainwreck is real for everyone.
…the new Camry is butt ugly. The Tundra is wishful thinking on Toyotas part, redneck America will never drive Toyota PUs when they can buy a Chevy, Ford or Dodge. It’s a man thing.
Well, on the plus side, Toyota is doing well in Canada.
I can’t wait to see the graphic accompanying the figures for Chrysler. Justin, a contest?
This is Toyota. They’ll be fine. Petals and sprinkles for all!
Any chances of a Tundra fire sale similar to the Dodge, Chevy & Ford lots? It’s a nice Home Depot hauler for the right price.
Just damn! The sky really is falling.
What 63CorvairSpyder meant to say was:
“Redneck America will never drive Toyota pickups when they can buy a Chevy, Ford or Dodge for half price.”
Actually it is nearly half price, about a 40% on the big cab “sleds”, as I call them. A work truck with a single bench seat isn’t yet discounted quite as much.
Depends on where you are looking to buy, Full size dodge trucks in my neighborhood are going for over 50% off sticker.
“redneck America will never drive Toyota PUs when they can buy a Chevy, Ford or Dodge. It’s a man thing.”
Not at all. It’s a brain thing.
When they tout the towing capacity over and over, and then boldly print in the owners manual, “Do not tow a trailer over 86 deg F.” And in another section, “Do not manually select range “1, 2, or 3 when towing on inclines.”
It’s pretty much a no brainer as to their truthfulness on the product lineup.
Wonder exactly how deep that goes.
Guess that speaks volumes of the average TMC buyer…
The only thing I find surprising about this is that Toyota sales fell considerably farther than GM sales did compared to September. Then again, a company in the black losing a whole bunch of sales is better than a company in the red losing any…
monkeyboy: “they tout the towing capacity over and over, and then boldly print in the owners manual, ‘Do not tow a trailer over 86 deg F.’ ”
Huh? Please explain. Around here, most folks are out towing boats and camping trailers because it’s summertime.
best news Ive heard all month!
maybe ,just maybe,Americans that can buy a car are starting to consider domestics!
Can’t resist taking a shot here:
Maybe GM is making more sales because they are still will to sell to anyone with a pulse today. While Toyota is not so willing to deal with folks with bad credit, they do not have to (as of yet).
Now the real question will be who has the higher total year sales and who turned a profit!
I bet I could walk into a GM dealer with a unemployment check in hand, sign it over and drive off with a car today!
The truth, dear friends, is in the incentive numbers. Ford, Toyota, Honda and Nissan all decreased their incentive spend for September. GM and Chrysler upped it.
The Tundra has been on similar sales as the F-150, GMTs and Rams around here over the summer. There’s just no individual demand, which is what drives the Tundra. I think Toyota’s bump in TUndra August sales has hurt their September sales.
These are terrible numbers from Toyota, but not unepxected given the last few months.
The fuel-sipping media darling Prius dropped some 13 percent to 10,873 sales this month.
Must be due to the anticipation of the Chevy Volt due out in 2010.
The annual production for US of the Prius is about 120,000, last I heard, which means selling every one they make is 10,000 per month, give or take.
Last year’s figures were higher because they were selling everything they made plus burning through some hung over inventory from the few months when they didn’t sell everything they made.
Shocking..because here in Indianapolis dealers have been offering $15000 off MSRP for the Tundra. For the cash buyer…now is the time to get a truck.
What 63CorvairSpyder meant to say was:
“Redneck America will never drive Toyota pickups when they can buy a Chevy, Ford or Dodge for half price.”…
Funny, but “redneck” America didn’t buy the Toyota pickup in numbers that were anywhere near the domestics even when there was normal pricing. And that’s only considering the current product, let alone the past ones…
Pickup buyers are the most loyal sheep there are, even more so than the Camcord flock. And, like it or not, the domestics do a good job with pickups.
Dealers are always a problem. I tried to buy a Tundra and after getting the price down some 11K off MSRP for a Tundra they kept quoting me monthly payments at 20% interest rate. I was so pissed they kept focusing on the monthly payment I walked out and decided not to buy it.
the next dealer I went to tried to tell me to pay MSRP for the Tundra. I told them the $5500 rebate on it and they dropped it to a few thousand. What a joke, I kept negotiating and they wanted the rebate. I said then give me 0% financing like the ad. They came back, again monthly payments added up to some 18% interest rate. I said go fuck yourself and walked out. They followed me like vultures out the door.
I got calls from them again and again to come back. Then they said you probably can’t afford it. I said, well at you’re rates no one will.
Greedy dealers are hurting and of course are getting dirtier and dirtier to their own detriment.
There are alot of redneck Tacoma 4×4 drivers around this small TN town. Not so many Nissan truck drivers but still alot of them too.
The story I’ve heard is a mid-szied truck is alot easier to navigate down a trail to your favorit hunting place. No, they don’t drive right to the tree stand but getting closer helps.