Hybrids Boost Toyota Sales
11.7% Gain Leads Asian Push in U.S. as Detroit Firms Falter

By David Runk
Associated Press
Wednesday, April 4, 2007

DETROIT, April 3 -- Toyota's U.S. sales jumped 11.7 percent last month, boosted by record sales of its hybrid vehicles and strong overall car sales.

Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan also reported solid gains, but sales at General Motors fell 4 percent, while Ford sales were down 9 percent and DaimlerChrysler sales fell 4.1 percent.

The numbers Tuesday come as domestic automakers have seen Asian rivals led by Toyota capture growing shares of the U.S. market. Despite its decline, however, Ford still held off Toyota for the No. 2 U.S. sales spot for the month.

In all, Toyota sold 242,675 light vehicles in the United States, including 140,009 cars, up 19.4 percent from the same month a year ago, and 102,666 trucks, a 2.7 percent increase. So far this year, Toyota has sold 61,635 hybrid vehicles in the United States, up 68 percent from the first three months of last year. That includes 28,453 hybrid models last month.

"This month marks a milestone eight years in the making," Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota's U.S. division, said in a statement. "Record U.S. sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids have now topped the half-million mark."

General Motors, which had its fleet sales drop for the month as it works to cut low-profit sales to rental car companies, sold 345,418 light vehicles, including 136,866 cars, up 2.3 percent, and 208,552 trucks, down 7.7 percent.

"In March, we saw continued strength and stability in our retail business led by gains in mid-[size] cars, crossovers, economy cars and luxury SUVs," said Mark R. LaNeve, GM's vice president of North American sales, service and marketing.

GM of Detroit said sales of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, GMC Acadia crossover and Saturn Outlook sport utility vehicles were exceeding its expectations. Paul Ballew, GM's executive director of global market and industry analysis, said the results highlighted a strong start for its crossovers, including the Acadia.

"We have new product that's being accepted in the marketplace," Ballew said in a conference call with industry analysts and reporters.

Ford's sales of 263,684 light vehicles included 174,200 trucks, down 5.9 percent from the same month a year ago, and 89,484 cars, down 14.6 percent. The monthly drop comes as Ford of Dearborn also works to reduce fleet sales. Ford, however, said its new mid-size cars, including the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ, and its new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers sold well.

"We remain committed to offering more of the products that our customers really want, and the popularity of our new cars and crossovers is proof we're delivering," Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said in a statement.

DaimlerChrysler sold 228,047 vehicles in the United States last month. Its Chrysler Group's passenger vehicle sales, which include the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands, fell 4.6 percent to 206,435. Mercedes sales rose 1 percent to a March record of 21,612.

Chrysler Group said it sold 52,625 cars in March, down 2.6 percent from a year ago, and 153,810 trucks, down 5.3 percent.

"In a flat to slightly down industry, our sales decline . . . compares to a March 2006 that was our best month of March in four years," Steven J. Landry, Chrysler's vice president for sales and field operations, said in a statement.

American Honda Motor, which includes Honda and Acura brands, said it's on track for another record U.S. sales year. It sold 143,392 light vehicles last month, up 11.3 percent, including 80,633 cars, up 12 percent, and 62,759 trucks, up 10.5 percent. Like Toyota, it said it had gains in sales of hybrids sales, but credited the overall increase on public perception about fuel-efficiency across its line.

"The continued sales success of Honda light trucks and cars in this period of ever-increasing fuel prices shows the high consumer awareness of our excellent fuel economy," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda.

Nissan North America, which includes Nissan and Infiniti, sold 111,119 vehicles last month, up 7.8 percent from March 2006, as car sales jumped 18 percent to 62,251, offsetting a 2.9 percent slide in truck sales to 48,868.