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Toyota’s US Sales of Prius and Camry Hybrids Soared in March
3 April 2007
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| Toyota’s hybrid sales. Click to enlarge. |
Although March is shaping up as a good month for hybrid sales with a record 31,652 units sold just by Toyota and Honda (data from Ford and Nissan still pending, and GM not reporting), it was the best month ever for Toyota and its hybrid sedans. (Even with the incomplete tally of 31,652, hybrids broke the 2% threshold for marketshare of new vehicles sales.)
March also marked a significant milestone for Toyota, with aggregate US sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids topping the half-million mark.
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| Prius US sales. Click to enlarge. |
Toyota posted sales of 28,453 hybrid vehicles in March, up 137% over the same period last year. The bulk of that came from the Prius, with a record-breaking 19,156 units sold, up 133.2% from the prior year.
The Camry hybrid was the second-best selling Toyota model, posting 5,144 units in March—its best monthly results to date. Hybrids represented 12.2% of all Camry models sold in the month. The Highlander Hybrid sold 2,501 units, down 16% from March 2006.
The Lexus Rx 400h sold 1,471 units, down 40% from the prior year. The Lexus GS450h sold 181 units, representing 92.8% of the combined GS 430/GS 450h models sold, and 8.6% of all GS models (including the GS 300).
Toyota’s calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales in the US totaled 61,635 units, an increase of 68% over the same period last year.
April 3, 2007 in Hybrids, Sales | Permalink | Comments (37) | TrackBack (0)
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March US auto sales prove that fuel efficiency matters. Congrats to Toyota!
BMW Group –1.4% at 28980 (3/06: 28,352)
Chrysler Group –8% at 206,435 (3/06: 216,412)
Ford Motor Co –12.24% at 264,975 (3/06: 291,146)
General Motors –7.7% at 349,867 (3/06: 365,375)
Honda America +7.3% at 143,392 (3/06: 128,806)
Nissan North America +3.9% at 111,119 (3/06: 103,095)
Toyota Motor Co. +7.7% at 242,675 (3/06: 217,286)
Volkswagen –19.3% at 17,355 (3/06: 20,730)
Posted by: AutoXprize - 100MPG challenge | Apr 3, 2007 9:05:38 PM
Toyota had a massive March in Canada as well (with hybrids selling well)
"TORONTO, April 3 /CNW/ - Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today announced that the company enjoyed its best March ever, as both the Toyota and Lexus divisions reported record-setting sales. TCI sales of 18,262 in March were up 7.4% from a year earlier. This included 12,589 passenger cars, 6.5% above the total sales in March 2006. Meantime, TCI's sales of trucks and SUVs were up 9.3% versus a year earlier, at 5,673 vehicles.
- Toyota's flagship hybrid vehicle, the Prius, achieved a Best March Ever, with sales totalling 218 units - up 29.8% over March 2006.
- Toyota Camry sales of 2,660 units were up 35.5% over March 2006. 534 Camry sales in March came from Camry Hybrid. This represents almost one quarter of total Camry sales in March.
The Lexus RX 400h hybrid luxury SUV enjoyed strong sales of 80 units, up 5.3% from the previous year to set a new March record.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2007/03/c2074.html
Posted by: AutoXprize - 100MPG challenge | Apr 3, 2007 9:13:00 PM
Hey Xprize, I think they might have sold more than 218 units
of the Prius, if it was their Best March Ever. Can't believe
that the Hybrid Camry out sold the Prius 2 to 1. In the US
the Prius out sold the Hybrid Camry by close to 4 to 1. I think
you might have missed the #1 key entirely. Anyway, thanks for
the inside tip to the market figures. Oh, buy the way is that
AutoXprize 10 million or 110 million, I might get busy if it is
the latter amount, as I am a greedy fat American looking for a
quick buck, while its still worth something. Seems as though this "Middle East Oil Grab" isn't going to be the cakewalk that
my "Commander In Theif" told me it was going to be. Now that
Halliburton has skipped town, I am looking for something to do,
as they have taken the money and ran. By the way, you got gas money for my Hummer, that is, until I win the Xprize for figuring out a way to get 100MPG from this baby.
Posted by: William | Apr 3, 2007 10:06:18 PM
Ok, I'll ask the obvious question...why the sudden increase in sales?
Posted by: Shaun Williams | Apr 4, 2007 3:46:28 AM
Toyota has been ramping up production and is now offering incentives up to $2,000 below msrp to match other hybrids getting the tax credit and to move them.
They had been fighting supply issues of batteries etc.
looks like they have it worked out.
Also new of Prius having top resale figures has had time to sink in.
Posted by: Richard | Apr 4, 2007 4:01:25 AM
Sadly, I see by reading Toyota's official March Sales tallies at their website that they have a distance to go before they can sell more Hybrids then gas guzzlers. If you look at their numbers, you'll see:
Tundra: 13,196 units
Sequoia: 2568 units
FJ Cruiser: 6057 units
4 Runner: 9052 units
Land Cruiser: 222 units
I give Toyota credit for offering the great hybrids that they do, but am frustrated when I see them pushing nothing but their big new Tundra all of the time. I can't pick up a magazine or watch a TV show without seeing one of their Tundras plastered there. But where are the Prius advertisements? Toyota, (and other Automakers too), have a good opportunity now to push their gas efficient vehicles with the price of U.S. gas being high. Let's watch and see, I bet Toyota will stick with the Tundra ads.
Posted by: Schmeltz | Apr 4, 2007 5:10:07 AM
Where are Toyota's Hybrid Trucks? Oh yeah they don't have any, and are not even talking about improving their dismall truck fleet fuel rating.
Posted by: tmo8844 | Apr 4, 2007 5:37:55 AM
The Prius sold so well because of the incentives being offered and the cut on April 1st in federal tax credits. It makes me feel cautious about next months numbers, despite the increase in gas prices.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 4, 2007 5:41:08 AM
Schmeltz - prior to the Tundra launch, Toyota ran a significant TV campaign for their three hybrids, which I believe was their most significant hybrid campaign to date. Of course, they want to make money, and the truck segment represents a huge opportunity for them to do just that. The Tundra ads show what market research indicates is important to truck buyers; gas mileage is conspicuously absent. We can hope that Toyota will improve the fuel efficiency of its trucks over time, regardless of what the marketplace seems to want, but I am not counting on it. They provide great products for those of us who place a high priority on fuel consumption and emissions, but I still expect them to act like a corporation, pursuing profit first and foremost.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 4, 2007 7:05:04 AM
I latched on to TMO's post in that, "Where are Toyota's Hybrid Trucks?" I was a little suprised when Toyota introduced their new Tundra, and a hybrid version wasn't even mentioned. They could be working on one, but I haven't heard of anything in that direction. What a statement they could have made as a corporation if they would've offered a 20-30 mpg Hybrid, Full-size Pick-up!
Posted by: Schmeltz | Apr 4, 2007 7:43:00 AM
Realistically, the most fuel could be saved on gas guzzler trucks.
Toyota, how about an E85 hybrid truck?
Posted by: Hydrid+E85 | Apr 4, 2007 7:47:30 AM
Toyota only sold 218 Priuses in all of Canada? And that's their best March ever?
That's pathetic
Posted by: Hydrid+E85 | Apr 4, 2007 7:49:12 AM
Tundra with high-mileage, low emission diesel makes more sense to me than hybrid.
Posted by: Nick | Apr 4, 2007 9:24:02 AM
According to this page, 748 units of Saturn-Vue was sold in 2007-02 which is quite good.
http://www.hybridcars.com/market-dashboard/feb07-us-sales.html
GM should come out openly on Hybrids.
Being in 4th year, Prius is still shattering records
and now its #3 in Toyota's sales.
At this rate, it will hit million mark soon.
Another significant trend in Mar is the top 4 SUV's by sales were actually CUV's. CR-V, Pilot, RAV-4 and Escape were ahead of Explorer / Tahoe.
Both Seuqoia and 4-Runner suffered serious sales declines. Seems gas prices are biting everyone and Tundra will also fall soon.
Posted by: Max Reid | Apr 4, 2007 10:20:49 AM
Gentlemen:
Place your bet (and your money) on the Prius III or the 10+ other Toyotas using similar drive trains in 2009/10.
Will the quick charge Prius PHEV version come out in 2009 or 2010?
Toyota's fast growing technology lead (quality, reliability and sales) is something that the other car/light trucks manufacturers will have to deal with.
Posted by: Harvey D. | Apr 4, 2007 10:53:02 AM
Toyota will make anything people want, and do a good job of it! The reason you haven't seen hybrid pickups has to do with towing capacity, it's more difficult to do than a sedan like the Prius. I suspect larger Li-ion batteries will make this more practical in the near future, stay tuned!
Posted by: Dave K. | Apr 4, 2007 11:28:01 AM
Starting in the fall, Toyota will be watching GM..
You will be able to buy a Tahoe with Cyclinder deactivation (ability to run on 4 cylinders at Highway speeds) a two mode hybrid [boost beyond 35mph unlike Toyota's] transmission that will pull anything from your Labrador retreiver to your boat. The vehicle will save hugh amounts of fuel relative to a non hybrid Tahoe and espcially considering the variance between a 4 cylinder civic vs a hybrid. Its carbon footprint is reduced also as a bonus! This is the part for Al Gore!!
Posted by: tmo8844 | Apr 4, 2007 12:38:28 PM
I did my part for Toyota sales with my new Hybrid Camry---love the car. I am averaging around 40.5 mpg on my daily 210 mile drive. Still trying to get the mpg higher as I slighty change my driving habits. I would buy a diesel Tundra in a second.
Posted by: neptune | Apr 4, 2007 4:03:27 PM
neptune: I tried on a Camry at a local green trade show. Nice car. Is a 210 mile daily commute normal where you live?!?
Posted by: Neil | Apr 4, 2007 4:38:23 PM
Neil, I do not think a 210 commute is normal anywhere. A job transfer along with wife in school forced my hand into a long drive.
Posted by: neptune | Apr 4, 2007 6:24:46 PM
Toyota doesn't seem to be interested in selling hybrids in Canada. The MSRP of the Prius is $31,280 vs. $31,900 for the Hybrid Camry. A Matrix or Corolla MSRP is about $20,000. The Civic Hybrid MSRP is $26,250.
Posted by: mark | Apr 4, 2007 6:53:19 PM
Canadians have traditionally bought their efficiency in smaller packages than US car buyers.
EG. in February, Canadians bought 3x more Yaris hatchbacks per-capita than Americans. Americans bought 3x more Priuses than Canadians the same month (per-cap): http://tinyurl.com/2m6ego
I read just this AM that the sub-compact market accounts for 50% of new car sales here.
Why? Higher fuel & income taxes (relatively less disposable income to spend on cars), and cultural differences (e.g. a national Green Party near 10% in recent polls). March saw the debut of a federal rebate program rewarding fuel efficient car purchases & taxing guzzlers.
Posted by: djc | Apr 4, 2007 7:24:17 PM
I'm averaging 48mpg with my 2002 VW bio-not-war fuel burner. It has no batteries, less parts, and better fuel efficiency than a Toyo. I've owned several Toyo pickups an d none had an engine that purred like a TDI.
Posted by: Randy | Apr 4, 2007 9:38:11 PM
randy, don't forget the emissions coming out of your car, even with biodiesel. and to be honest, getting 48 mpg in an HSD Prius isn't something to be proud of.
and no engine purrs like an electric motor.
Posted by: lensovet | Apr 4, 2007 10:19:34 PM
Re: Pathetic Canadian sales of the Prius.
Canadian Prius sales are pathetic for one main reason: high prices. Base Prius in Canada retails for C$31280, or $27166 in US money. That's about $5000 US more than the US base model Prius. The Canadian Camry hybrid, by contrast, retails for about the same as the Prius. Hence it sells better. New federal incentives in Canada should benefit all hybrids but the Camry hybrid is by far the better value in Canada as is the Honda Civic hybrid (about C$26000).
Posted by: Peter | Apr 5, 2007 7:01:15 AM
Randy and Co, please try to imagine that would be the air like, if 50% of the sold passagers vehicels are powered by current Diesel engines. New York and other places would face a worse air and a higher death toll due to air pollution (Except the air quality regulations for patrol and Diesel engine are the same). Is it that you want with your Diesel?
There are some 10.000 premature death per year in Europe due to Diesel fumes. You can google on the official pages of the European Comissson etc.
Think about it, please.
An average Diesel produces 10 times more harmful fumes. So, please do a bit math.
Posted by: Michel | Apr 5, 2007 2:46:32 PM
Michel, Thanks for the feedback. I rarely drive my car, most of time it's riding my human powered bike. When I do drive it's with biodiesel (a transition fuel until we find something better) that has lower emissions than gas. I'm all for a weight/pollution tax on polluter commuters and redesigning our cities to be car free like some European cities did centuries ago.
Posted by: Randy | Apr 5, 2007 6:22:08 PM
mike, any updates on data from Ford and Nissan?
Posted by: lensovet | Apr 5, 2007 10:51:11 PM
As usual, diesel-haters don't know what they're talking about. This article was posted on this very site more than two years ago:
Green Car Congress has an interesting post today looking closely at the relative performance and environmental stats of the 2005 model year Honda Accords: the four and six-cylinder gasolines, the four cylinder diesel, and the six cylinder hybrid. The results are quite interesting:
the Accord Diesel (using petroleum diesel) offers the lowest fuel consumption and the lowest CO2 emissions, even surpassing the Accord Hybrid.
The Accord Diesel (which is not offered in the US) gets 43.3 miles per gallon and emits ~143 grams of CO2 per kilometer, compared to 33/165 for the Accord Hybrid. Use of biodiesel would further lower the carbon footprint of the diesel Accord. And while some of the efficiency comes from being a four-cylinder instead of a six-cylinder vehicle, it's worth noting that the diesel model greatly out-performs the four-cylinder gasoline model across the board.
Note, the diesel got better mileage -- 43.3 vs. 33 -- and put out less CO2 -- 143 grams vs. 165. And that was with petroleum diesel. Using pure biodiesel would reduce harmful emissions by 80 percent. The new emission control systems of the 2007 (or in VW's case, 2008) models of Mercedes Benz and Audi will make even greater inroads in reducing harmful emissions.
Posted by: dlb | Apr 6, 2007 9:55:56 AM
Toyota is offering $2000 incentives on Prius, mostly on extras like navigation systems, to offset the reduction in federal incentives and to boost the sales, which are slowing. Just about the time they ramp up production, stuff happens and they have to promote the sales. I can remember when there was a waiting list for Prius.
Posted by: SJC | Apr 6, 2007 3:51:06 PM
Since they lose thousands on every hybrid according tothe 3 Stooges, Toyota should be bankrupt soon!
Posted by: joe padula | Apr 7, 2007 2:15:25 AM
In 2005, Toyota made $10b and GM lost $10b. If making hybrids with small profit margins versus huge SUVs bring these kinds of results, it is time to rethink the business model.
Posted by: SJC | Apr 7, 2007 11:05:10 AM
SJC:
As I and others posted earlier, Toyota also is a Big Pickup and Big SUV Company. I've read they are pouring something close to $100 million in advertising for the Tundra. They are trying their hardest to push these big trucks with the 5.7L V8. Yes, they do spend some advertising money on their Hybrids, but they are not out there pushing their hardest like they are with the Tundra. Think what could have been done with a $100 million if Toyota is as sincere about fuel efficiency as is proclaimed by many on this site. They could have applied that money to every hybrid they produce to bring down the added cost for the technology, so that a Hybrid Camry would cost the same as a V6 Camry for example. They did not do anything close to that.
In an earlier post, TMO suggested a Hybrid Tundra--good suggestion by the way. There was a perfect opportunity for Toyota to show their allegiance to efficiency, and produce a revolutionary product that would offer the power and girth of a full size pick-up, with the efficiency of an economy car. And what did they do? They produced a Big, gas-thirsty pick-up, just like everybody else. And they still get nothing but cheers and adoration from this crowd. We can't in good conscience point a finger at GM, Ford, and Chrysler for not being green enough, and then happily overlook all of the Tundras that Toyota is pushing and selling. Toyota does love the Green---money that is.
Posted by: Schmeltz | Apr 8, 2007 6:15:59 AM
Another interesting tidbit:
Toyota sold 19,156 Prius in March. Chevrolet sold 18,061 Cobalts in the same month. That is nearly the same amount of sales of a vehicle that is also small and fuel efficient. Granted, the Cobalt has some faults, and doesn't offer the economy of a Prius, they still sell consistently in these numbers. You never hear a word about them though.
Posted by: Schmeltz | Apr 10, 2007 9:52:07 AM
Dear Toyota, I don't see any Commercials or adds for your Prius Hybrid. Why not? Please get the word out. just because you're selling allot of Hybrid Prius, More people need to know about this technology. Today I drove about 80 miles and used about one gallon of gas. Thats amazing!
Posted by: Joseph M. | Apr 22, 2007 12:01:15 AM
There's a fair bit of nonsensical rah rah comments here, with the exception of those such Schmeltz and SJC who make some good points. The Cobalt (and its counterpart the Pursuit) get excellent mileage, have minimal emissions and are affordable for working Canadians. My daughter drives one and in my opinion it compares very favourably with my the Toyota driven by another daughter--nicer shift, smoother and quieter, and cheaper servicing.
The environmental footrpint of a vehicle is measured by more than the marginally improved emissions the Prius provides and its slightly superior mileage compared to conventional gas powere vehicles. I read a study that pointed out that taking into account the shipment distances, disposal issues etc. of the Prius, the over-all footrprint of a Prius was larger than a Hummer. SJC's comment is a good one too in my opinion. Over-all GM is doing a better job than Toyota when you consider the full range of vehicles that have to be considered. Some people need trucks and heavier vehicles and the Hybrid Silverado will have more of an impact than the Prius. Silverado buyers are already paying a fairly high price so many of them won't be put off by another $3,000, given the economics. GM has targeted 2012 for introduction of a fuel cell vehicle in showrooms. Other manufacturers, e.g. BMW's Series 5 that will run a conventional engine using hydrogen for fuel, etc. etc. are far more significant than the Prius all things considered. This blog reads like a Prius/Toyota fan club instead of a balanced and critical discussion of all aspects of current and emerging technology. Toyota gets too much of a pass, just because of the Prius and Camry. A Prius is the last car I would purchase, all things considered. I acknowledge it may be suitable for some and Toyota deserves a lot of credit for pushing the envelope and developing the technology. But for those who need more space and actually like cars, it won't be on their list. There are other responsible choices available and coming--e.g. the Chevrolet Volt, Mercedes low emissions diesel and they should be analyzed more--unless this is meant to be a Prius fan club.
Posted by: Neil | May 20, 2007 5:57:36 PM
what is the emission CO2 gram pr kilometer (toyota camry hybrid 2007)....Export to Norway
Posted by: jan inge lervik | Sep 28, 2007 5:13:59 AM
