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For the second month in a row, only the Mini survived the sales onslaught. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=178132)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/2009_Toyota_Corolla_CE.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (www.cleanmpg.com) - Jan. 5, 2009

2009 Toyota Corolla CE w/ an AT – 27 mpgUS city, 35 mpgUS highway and 30 mpgUS combined on the 08 EPA.

In 2008, the Corolla outsold all compacts with over 350,000 vehicles sold.

Forty years after Toyota introduced the first Corolla to American drivers, the all-new, 10th-generation Corolla again provides customers with a high-quality, high-MPG choice. Since 1966, more than 32 million Corollas have been sold worldwide.

The 2009 Corolla is offered with a choice of fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines. The Corolla Standard, LE and XLE are equipped with the 1.8L DOHC four-cylinder engine.

All Corolla models are equipped with standard frontal airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags, plus front and rear curtain side airbags. Seatbelt pretensioners cinch the seat belt at the time of a frontal collision, and the dual-stage force limiter helps limit the seat belt force applied to the chest of the passenger. Both Front seats integrate active headrests.

Fuel Efficient Non-Hybrids

The Big 5 fuel efficient non-hybrids sales are still holding onto a year over year sales increase of 4.3 percent thanks mostly to the Fit, Yaris and Mini Cooper’s with their 20 to 41 percent increases in YTD total sales. For the second month in a row, only the Mini Cooper saw a positive month over month sales total as most manufacturers experienced yet another free fall in their own total sales.

As has been the case throughout most of 2008, the Toyota Corolla held onto the sales lead with 22,129 units sold, a decrease of 22.6 percent vs. December of 07. For the year, the Corolla is off by 5.8 percent vs. the same 07 YTD sales period.

The Civic had its third month to month comparison sales decline in a row as sales fell by 36.4 percent with 17,302 units sold. For the year, sales are still up 2.1 percent.

The Fit had yet another sales fall-off on monthly sales basis but only a minor setback. December sales of 5,039 vehicles yielded a decrease of 1.5% compared to the December 2007 sales period. For the year, the Fit is still holding onto the title of “Best in Compact/Sub-Compact Class” 40.9 percent increase vs. 07 YTD.

The Toyota Yaris subcompact saw 4,417 units sold in December. This was a decrease of 19.4 percent vs. the same period a year ago. The Yaris still holds a 20.3 percent increase YTD vs. 07.

As described above, MINI Cooper sales are still increasing but momentum appears to have stalled. In December, Mini sales increased by 0.1 percent to 3,566 vehicles from 3,562 units sold during the same period a year ago. For the year, the Mini saw a 28.6 percent increase over the 07 YTD.

The Smart Fortwo was received by 2,341 new owners in December and for the 08 model year, 24,622 vehicles have been sold.

In Canada, Toyota's overall sales were up 11.3 percent for the year and for the first time, Toyota sold over 200,000 units. The highlights include the Corolla, up 42.6 percent to 57,736 vehicles, Prius was up 72.5% with 4,458 vehicles sold and the HiHy, up by 159.9% to 1,523 units vs. all of 2007.

December 2008 Fuel Efficient Non-Hybrid Sales Summary

||Month to Date|||Year to Date|
Make and Model|December 2008|Decober 2007|DSR* % Change|December 2008|December 2007|DSR* % Change|
Toyota Corolla|22,129|28,582|-22.6%|351,007|371,390|-5.8%
Honda Civic**|17,310|27,190|-36.4%|339,289|331,095|+2.1%
Honda Fit|5,039|5,118|-1.5%|79,774|56,432|+40.9%
Toyota Yaris|4,417|5,477|-19.4%|102,328|84,799|+20.3%
Mini Cooper|3,566|3,562|+0.1%|54,077|42,045|+28.6%
Smart Fortwo|2,341|NA|NA|24,622|NA|NA
DSR*: Daily Selling Rate - There were 26 selling days for the December 2008 sales period, same as in 2007. There were 308 days 08 YTD vs. 307 days YTD in 2007.
** Honda Civic sales include the HCH-II.

Hybrid’s

2008 Hybrid sales have been in a slow decline all year and the decline really took hold the past four months as gasoline prices fell and the automobile marketplace imploded. As December came to a close, every major hybrid saw large percentage sales declines vs. the year ago period.

The Toyota Prius posted December sales of 7,859, a drop of 44.7 percent from the December of 2007 sales period. The Prius’ year over year sales are down 12.6 percent.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid achieved sales of 1,888, down 62.0 percent vs. the December 2007 sales period. Year over year sales are showing a decline of 15.2 percent compared to the 2007 cumulative sales totals.

The Honda Civic Hybrid total sales fell 67.9 percent to just 1,036 units sold. For the year, the HCH-II is showing a 4.2 percent decrease YTD.

The HiHy sold 890 units, down 68.1percent for the December 2008 vs. December 2007 comparison period. Year over year, this SUV based hybrid is down 12.4 percent.

The FEH/MMH twins' sales for December were down 49.3 percent for the month compared to Dec. 2007 and down 22.5 percent YTD vs. 2007 total sales.

The Lexus RX 400h hybrid reported sales of 1,463 units for the month, down 28.0 percent vs. the year ago sales period. For the year, sales are off by 12.4 percent vs. 2007.

The sales of GM’s hybrids show a total of 2,555 hybrid vehicles delivered in the month of December. These included 981 Chevrolet Tahoe’s, 442 GMC Yukon’s and 306 Cadillac Escalade 2-mode SUVs plus 454 Chevrolet Malibu’s, 34 Saturn Aura’s and 338 Vue hybrids. GM sold 14,439 hybrids in 2008.

Overall sales for the Big 6 Hybrid’s were down by 12.9 percent for 2008 in total. With gas prices falling into the $1.50 - $1.75 per gallon range nationwide and the automobile market still in decline, this lower level of sales will probably hold for the foreseeable future.

December 2008 Hybrid Sales Summary

||Month to Date|||Year to Date|
Make and Model|December 2008|December 2007|DSR* % Change|December 2008|Decober 2007|DSR* % Change|
Toyota Prius|7,859|14,212|-44.7%|158,884|181,221|-12.6%
Toyota Camry Hybrid|1,888|4,969|-62.0%|46,272|54,404|-15.2%
Honda Civic Hybrid|1,036|3,223|-67.9%|31,297|32,575|-4.2%
Toyota Highlander Hybrid|890|2,791|-68.1%|19,391|22,052|-12.4%
Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid|1,149|2,265|-49.3%|19,522|25,108|-22.5%
Lexus RX400h|1,463|2,032|-28.0%|15,200|17,291|-12.4%
DSR*: Daily Selling Rate - There were 26 selling days for the December 2008 sales period, same as in 2007. There were 308 days 08 YTD vs. 307 days YTD in 2007.

Big 5 Manufacturers Overall

For the Monthly comparison, every manufacturer once again saw severe sales declines. Chrysler sales were down 53 percent (off 30 percent for the year), GM sales were down 31 percent (off 23 percent for the year), Toyota sales were down 36.7 percent (off 15.7 percent for the year), Honda sales were down 34.7 percent (off 8.2 percent for the year) with Ford, Mercury and Lincoln combined sales off 32 percent (20 percent for the year). All in, this was not a December to remember by any means.

Hopefully all the freshness about to hit this country combined with the currently low energy prices, we can shake ourselves out of this funk.

Now that gasoline is under $2/gallon, that means it's time to buy that Dodge RAM as a commuter vehicle, right?

Thats not what I meant, I meant since people finally have some breathing room and all their spare cash isn't going into fuel, those that have the means can consider moving into a more fuel efficient vehicle, but they probably won't, after all the price always goes back down right?

I'm hopeful also. I just wish we could have a collective memory about how expensive fuel can get when in strong demand, and continue to concentrate on fuel efficient cars.

For sure, the reduced fuel prices are a great stimulus. Probably more than anything the gov could do. But with peak oil, my personal belief, any robust growth is again gonna bump against expensive energy. Best we take the breather to learn how to be efficient. Apparently Americans still haven't gotten the message.

The part about gas prices always coming back down was sarcasm for anyone who doesn't catch that.

24,000 Smart Cars in 1st year !

That is simply extraordinary.

Even with decrease in Gas prices, the sales volume remained high.

From what I understand is that they were all pre-sold.

From what I've heard, the drop in sales is more due to the lack of credit than any other outside factor (although I am sure job loss or fear of that is part of it, too.) Can anyone in the car dealer business back this one up?

Banks are making smarter loans and it is harder to get people approved but the money is still out there. Mostly the consumers are in a panic mode.

Scared People don't buy cars

Yes Austin, people are holding off to see if they get laid off and other reasons, as soon as they let this go we'll see some sales records and probably land ourselves in a bigger mess than we're in now due to over-use of credit (people buying more than they can afford to pay back).

Well, when you keep in mind that all car sales are down, it should come as no surprise that hybrid and fuel efficient non-hydrid sales are also downtoo. The view from my parts counter, from which I'm selling a good bit, especially to wholesale shops, is that people are keeping what they've got rather than trotting out to buy new.

This is born out by some reported conversations from some of those shops that go along the lines of, "Well, I can't afford a new car, but I can put $500 into this one and keep it another couple years." And I work for a BMW/MINI dealer, so our cars can really be kept forever if one chooses.

As another observation, those willing to make the leap to hybrids may be less able because of the higher intial cost right now. But we can hope that the efficient mindset that gained ground while fuel prices were high will remain as part of a broader sense of how to get by with less.

Try looking up Mazda 5 sales figures...... Numbers are not large but it is one of the few cars that is continually selling more than the pervious years even in the down economy.

Hi Rex:

___The Malibu did the same but GM sold a significant number of them. Either way, Mazda experienced a 10.5-percent fall-off last year and is shutting down production all over the world just like everyone else to alleviate the real fall off in total sales which really took on a power all its own starting around September of 08.

___The Hybrid Fuel efficient offerings as shown were down 12.9-percent while the non-hybrids were up 11.4-percent.

___Good Luck

___Wayne