DETROIT, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) grabbed more U.S. retail market share than Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in early November and it was less than one share point behind General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), J.D. Power and Associates said on Friday.

A report from the industry tracking firm's closely watched Power Information Network said GM had the highest retail market share in the first 13 days of November at 18.8 percent.

However, retail share at the world's largest automaker was down 24 percent from the same period a year ago, and Toyota was running close behind with a retail share of 17.9 percent. Toyota, Japan's largest automaker, had a 15.4 percent U.S. retail market share a year earlier.

The report said Ford, which has seen its retail sales decline 30 percent from the year-ago period, placed a distant third with a U.S. retail share of 15.3 percent.

GM and Ford both reported 23 percent declines in their U.S. sales last month, as high gasoline prices hurt demand for their big sport utility vehicles and industrywide sales fell to their slowest pace in seven years.

DaimlerChrysler (DCX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (DCXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) was in fourth place in early November, with a retail share of 13.6 percent, while Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research) took the No. 5 spot with a 12.2 percent share.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research), which suffered a 13 percent decline in October sales, appears to be in line for more disappointing results in November, according to the Power Information Network. It said Nissan's retail sales were down 15 percent from the same period last year and its share was holding flat at 7.8 percent.

On an industrywide basis, the report said retail sales in the first 13 days of November were down 15 percent compared with the same time period a year ago.

http://today.reuters.com/investing/finance...AUTOS-SALES.XML

Nothing new here. After a record breaking summer, the Big Two had to have a hang over. I think the battle ground will be 2006 with boy GM and Ford having launched new key market vehicles (Impala, Fusion, etc.) and see how they swim against Asia Inc.

I still want to know exactly how many cars Toyota fleets. My intrigue was piqued by the trailer of Camries I saw driving...into the Enterprise lot at Tampa International.

I still want to know exactly how many cars Toyota fleets. My intrigue was piqued by the trailer of Camries I saw driving...into the Enterprise lot at Tampa International.

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I'd like to, also but this article is reporting retail market share, not combined fleet/retail.

I still want to know exactly how many cars Toyota fleets. My intrigue was piqued by the trailer of Camries I saw driving...into the Enterprise lot at Tampa International.

[post="45131"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I believe Toyota's fleet percentage is about 6-8% of overall sales, while GM's is about 20-25%. I'm fairly certain I read that in Automotive News but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

-Andrew L

I still want to know exactly how many cars Toyota fleets. My intrigue was piqued by the trailer of Camries I saw driving...into the Enterprise lot at Tampa International.

[post="45131"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Yes, I too read that Toyota's fleet sales are anywhere from 6 - 8% of total sales.

What's scary is that the Big 3 had a huge fleet sales increase ... by an order of double digits in October. GM's fleet sales in October were up by over 20%. According to the article I read, Toyota actually was #1 in US retail sales in October.

I wonder if November is the same case for the Big 3, with fleet sales keeping their retail sales propped up.

http://www.autonews.com/article.cms?articleId=55382

"GM's fleet sales generated 33.5 percent of its total October volume, up from 25.8 percent for the period a year earlier. Ford Motor's fleets also accounted for 33 percent of October sales, up from 24 percent a year earlier.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.'s monthly fleet percentage typically remains in the single digits, the company says. "Our fleet runs between 6 and 7 percent," says Xavier Dominicis, company spokesman. "October was typical." "