Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported its best-ever first-half sales in 49 years of business in the U.S. with calendar-year-to-date (CYTD) sales of 1,223,542. June sales of 223,018, an increase of 14.4 percent over last June, contributed to a record-setting second quarter, with sales of 678,691 units.

"With no real let-up in gas prices, market dynamics are unchanged," said Jim Lentz, TMS executive vice president. "Fuel-efficient products continue to drive the market, even as consumers are likely becoming acclimated to today's fuel prices. Buyers are turning to hybrids and smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles as a hedge against future uncertainty."

The Toyota Division posted its best-ever June with sales of 195,332, up 15.7 percent. The Lexus Division reported best-ever June sales with 27,686 units sold, an increase of 6.3 percent.

Toyota Division passenger cars recorded best-ever June sales of 117,769, up 21.7 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales were led by the Corolla, which posted best-ever June sales of 37,311 and an increase of 38.7 percent over last June. The Camry Hybrid, which went on sale in late April, reported sales of 4,268 units in June. Camry, Camry Solara and Camry Hybrid enjoyed best-ever combined June sales of 41,427 units, up 9.8 percent. The all-new Yaris subcompact, which went on sale in March, posted sales totaling 6,888 units for the month. The Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size sedan posted best-ever June sales of 9,696, an increase of 0.8 percent.

Toyota Division light truck sales were up 7.6 percent, with a best-ever June total of 77,563 units. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) with best-ever June sales of 13,204, up 103.5 percent over the same period last year. 4Runner enjoyed June sales of 8,647 units, up 4.1 percent. The all-new FJ Cruiser, which went on sale in March, reported sales of 6,366 units. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 2,705 units for the month. The Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined June sales of 10,436.

June marked Scion's three-year sales anniversary. Scion reported best-ever June sales with 15,837 units sold. The tC sports coupe led the way with best-ever June sales of 7,462 units, up 11.3 percent. Scion xB sales were up 46.5 percent, posting best-ever June sales of 5,964 units. The xA also had strong sales totaling 2,411 units in June, up 15.7 percent.

Lexus passenger cars posted best-ever June sales with 15,842 units, an increase of 23.6 percent. Passenger car sales were led by the all-new ES 350 luxury sedan with best-ever June sales of 7,645 units, up 26.4 percent. The IS luxury sport sedans reported best-ever June sales of 4,461 units, a 980.1 percent increase. The IS 250 sales totaled 3,253, with the IS 350 recording sales of 1,208 units. The all-new GS 450h luxury hybrid performance sedan posted sales of 231 units, while combined sales of the GS 430 and GS 450h totaled 420 units.

Lexus Division light trucks reported June sales totaling 11,844 units. The 2006 RX 400h luxury hybrid vehicle, reported sales of 1,190 units for the month. The RX 350 and RX 400h enjoyed combined June sales of 9,651 units.

Sales of North American-built vehicles accounted for 52.9 percent of total June sales. There were 26 selling days both this month and last June.

                         -- CURRENT MONTH --     -- CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE --
                                           DSR %                        DSR %
                            2006     2005    CHG       2006       2005    CHG

    YARIS                  6,888        0     --     22,685          0     --
    COROLLA               37,311   26,908   38.7    197,303    174,054   13.4
    CAMRY                 41,427   37,717    9.8    218,517    216,607    0.9
    AVALON                 6,608    9,134  -27.7     45,036     42,961    4.8
    PRIUS                  9,696    9,622    0.8     48,156     53,308   -9.7
    SCION xA               2,411    2,083   15.7     16,832     12,891   30.6
    SCION xB               5,964    4,070   46.5     31,375     27,133   15.6
    SCION tC               7,462    6,706   11.3     37,533     34,838    7.7
    TOTAL TOYOTA DIV.
     PASS. CAR           117,769   96,755   21.7    617,464    566,519    9.0
    ES 350                 7,645    6,048   26.4     32,589     32,448    0.4
    LS 430                 1,014    2,290  -55.7      6,716     13,621  -50.7
    SC 430                   531      752  -29.4      3,087      4,092  -24.6
    GS 300                 1,771    2,701  -34.4     11,349     12,379   -8.3
    GS 430/450h              420      616  -31.8      2,144      2,935  -27.0
    IS 250/350             4,461      413  980.1     26,946      2,617  929.7
    TOTAL LEXUS PASS.
     CAR                  15,842   12,820   23.6     82,831     68,092   21.6
    TOTAL TOYOTA PASS.
     CAR                 133,611  109,575   21.9    700,295    634,611   10.4
    SIENNA                13,381   15,327  -12.7     80,785     78,064    3.5
    RAV4                  13,204    6,489  103.5     75,015     35,949  108.7
    FJ CRUISER             6,366        0     --     21,469          0     --
    4RUNNER                8,647    8,308    4.1     54,866     52,077    5.4
    HIGHLANDER            10,436   13,029  -19.9     61,357     70,412  -12.9
    LAND CRUISER             228      376  -39.4      1,625      2,513  -35.3
    SEQUOIA                2,484    4,008  -38.0     16,898     24,169  -30.1
    TOTAL SUV             41,365   32,210   28.4    231,230    185,120   24.9
    4X2 TACOMA             8,508    8,538   -0.4     51,414     46,987    9.4
    4X4 TACOMA             5,487    5,790   -5.2     34,450     30,945   11.3
    TOTAL TACOMA          13,995   14,328   -2.3     85,864     77,932   10.2
    TUNDRA                 8,822   10,212  -13.6     57,458     64,429  -10.8
    TOTAL PICKUP          22,817   24,540   -7.0    143,322    142,361    0.7
    TOTAL TOYOTA DIV. LT
     TRUCK                77,563   72,077    7.6    455,337    405,545   12.3
    LX 470                   406      575  -29.4      2,869      3,673  -21.9
    GX 470                 1,787    2,633  -32.1     11,759     16,233  -27.6
    RX 350/400h            9,651   10,015   -3.6     53,282     54,008   -1.3
    TOTAL LEXUS LIGHT
     TRUCK                11,844   13,223  -10.4     67,910     73,914   -8.1
    TOTAL TOYOTA LIGHT
     TRUCK                89,407   85,300    4.8    523,247    479,459    9.1
    TOTAL TOYOTA DIV.    195,332  168,832   15.7  1,072,801    972,064   10.4
    TOTAL LEXUS           27,686   26,043    6.3    150,741    142,006    6.2
    TOTAL TOYOTA         223,018  194,875   14.4  1,223,542  1,114,070    9.8

    MEMO:
    DOM. COROLLA          31,104   26,386   17.9    170,357    168,907    0.9
    DOM. CAMRY            33,829   34,710   -2.5    188,017    208,360   -9.8
    DOM. PICKUP           22,817   24,540   -7.0    143,322    142,361    0.7
    DOM. RX 330            7,683    6,445   19.2     34,511     34,032    1.4

    SELLING DAYS              26       26               152        152

    TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
     CAR                  46,228   26,525   74.3    214,054    146,291   46.3
    LEXUS IMPORT CAR      15,842   12,820   23.6     82,831     68,092   21.6
    TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT
     CARS                 71,541   70,230    1.9    403,410    420,228   -4.0
    TOTAL TOYOTA CARS    133,611  109,575   21.9    700,295    634,611   10.4

    TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
     LT TRUCK             38,881   28,202   37.9    214,332    160,951   33.2
    LEXUS IMPORT LT
     TRUCK                 4,161    6,778  -38.6     33,399     39,882  -16.3
    TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT
     LT TRUCK             38,682   43,875  -11.8    241,005    244,594   -1.5
    LEXUS NA BUILT LT
     TRUCK                 7,683    6,445   19.2     34,511     34,032    1.4
    TOTAL TOYOTA LT
     TRUCK                89,407   85,300    4.8    523,247    479,459    9.1

    SPORT UTILITY
     VEHICLES             46,843   45,433    3.1    277,671    259,034    7.2
       Memo: Lexus Sport
        Utility           11,844   13,223  -10.4     67,910     73,914   -8.1

    SMALL VANS            13,381   15,327  -12.7     80,785     78,064    3.5
    PICKUPS               22,817   24,540   -7.0    143,322    142,361    0.7

    * NORTH AMERICAN
     BUILT VEHICLES
    COROLLA               31,104   26,386   17.9    170,357    168,907    0.9
    CAMRY                 33,829   34,710   -2.5    188,017    208,360   -9.8
    AVALON                 6,608    9,134  -27.7     45,036     42,961    4.8
    SIENNA                13,381   15,327  -12.7     80,785     78,064    3.5
    PICKUP                22,817   24,540   -7.0    143,322    142,361    0.7
    SEQUOIA                2,484    4,008  -38.0     16,898     24,169  -30.1
    RX 330                 7,683    6,445   19.2     34,511     34,032    1.4
    TOTAL                117,906  120,550   -2.2    678,926    698,854   -2.9
    N.A. VEHICLES % OF
     TOTAL                  52.9%    61.9%             55.5%      62.7%

    SELLING DAYS              26       26               152        152
    DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE

Link: http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases/View?...YT2006070346770

Added sales chart - Ven

Holy Hell... Avalon dropped like a rock! Not trying to be funny, but what happened? Is the Camry cannibalizing Avalon or are people just buying the ES instead? Both?

Toyota Avalon

2005: 9,134

2006: 6,608

Buick Lucerne

2006: 10,690

Ford Five Hundred

2005: 8,646

2006: 9,089

Chrysler 300

2005: 11,504

2006: 9,140

Probably both, Ven. Toyota made a mistake of putting the same V6 engine in the Avalon and Camry.

Probably both, Ven.  Toyota made a mistake of putting the same V6 engine in the Avalon and Camry.

I don't think that's the problem. People (at least most of them) aren't buying the Avalon because of it's power. That's like saying its ok for GM to stick the 3900 in the G6 because it might take Aura sales if it got the 3.6 (even though it is now), or that the Lucerne shouldn't have the Northstar because that should be Cadillac-exclusive and it only steals DTS sales. I think the problem is that when the Avalon came out it didn't have the Lucerne to contend with nor the ES. The Camry may be taking some sales, but I don't think it's because you can get the same engine in both.

Anyways, Toyota sales were pretty good, but what everyone always fails to point out is that Toyota's gains are always made by their new releases. If GM's lineup was the same size as Toyota's, they'd be gaining volume too because such a large percentage of the vehicles are "launch vehicles" -- GM's launch vehicles are doing very well. Other than the Corolla (which I'm not sure how it had such a huge gain - fleet?) and xB, the only vehicles that posted significant gains were the Camry (launch), Yaris (launch), ES (launch), IS (hasn't been out for a year and the old one sold like crap), RAV4 and FJ (both launch). Now, that's a large percentage of Toyota's lineup because it's not as big as GM's, but most of Toyota's products were actually down.

I see where you are coming from but my point was that it does not make much sense to put the same engine with the same specs in your midsize car and entry-lux car. The Avalon should have more power than the Camry because of its "status," IMO.

Some of Toyota's products were down because they are old and need to be replaced, like the Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, RX, LS and SC, all of which will be replaced within the next 1-3 years. The GS is the odd one of the group because it is new but sales are down.

Avalon sales are down because the Avalon is now a superfluous car. It had one year of meaningful glory and that's it. Spend a little less for a Camry with the same features or a little more for an ES with more features. Plus, for an alleged 'fullsize' car, it has a pitiful trunk. Toyota did the same thing people constantly criticize the Big Three of doing - introducing a car that really has no advantage over any other cars in the lineup.

If this were baseball, the Avalon would be hitting the showers because this is its third strike.

The Camry, Corolla, Tacoma, and RX330, maybe the Prius for a certain demographic, seem to be the core, blockbuster sellers, while most everything else does well for a year or two, then runs out of steam.

That really sucks that the Avalon is down. I personally like the car's styling(in and out) and "status" as was mentioned earlier far better than the Camry. But its hard to argue these things alone can justify the additional cost. My budget is getting tighter in the upcoming year, so the Avalon may not be a smart move. I still like the Lucerne and Impala styling, but they too lack some other important features I would like to have.

Looks like GM isn't the only MFG that is having a harder time selling trucks/SUVs.

But geeze, IS sales up almost 1000%!!

But geeze, IS sales up almost 1000%!!

Well since the old one sold like crap, it's not that surprising. The CTS that's on it's final year now outsold it by over 1500 units, so I'm not sure how impressive that really is though.

It would be interesting to see how much of an increase the CTS had over the Catera.