Toyota Sets Prius Sales Record on Bigger Lineup, Gas Prices

[ALS]

At this pace, and with the recovery in the U.S. economy, Toyota’s target for Prius sales looks fairly doable,

Alan Ohnsman - BLOOMBERG - April 3, 2012

U.S. sales of Prius hybrids reached a record in March and in the first quarter, propelled by higher gasoline prices and two new models.

Toyota, the largest seller of gasoline-electric autos, sold more than 25,000 units in March of the Prius “family” now comprised of a plug-in Prius and c subcompact, along with the original hatchback and v wagon, Bob Carter, group vice president of U.S. sales, said in an e-mail yesterday. The previous monthly best for Prius was May 2007, when it delivered 24,009 units.

The fast start for the world’s top-selling alternative powertrain car keeps Toyota on track to meet a goal of 220,000 Prius sales in the U.S. this year, up from 136,463 in 2011. The vehicle accounts for half of U.S. hybrid sales, and a shortage of the car last year due to Japan’s earthquake and tsunami cut industrywide deliveries to about 273,000 units from about 275,000 a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. ... [Read More]

[JusBringIt]

...

The vehicle accounts for half of U.S. hybrid sales, and a shortage of the car last year due to Japan’s earthquake and tsunami cut industrywide deliveries to about 273,000 units from about 275,000 a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Not much of a difference...

[ksstathead]

The difference is that it should have been a big increase based on higher gas prices, but could not even quite hit prior year.

[JusBringIt]

Originally Posted by ksstathead

The difference is that it should have been a big increase based on higher gas prices, but could not even quite hit prior year.

That's still just speculation. It could be argued, but we're convicting a "criminal" pre-crime.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

I know it's now a family bundle, but the following were the top sellers (I don't think I missed anything):

1. F-Series 58.1k
2. Camry 42.6k (including >5k TCH!? 6011 TCH+HiHy were sold)
3. Altima 41.1k
4. Silverado 36.5k
5. CR-V 30.9k
   
6. Prius 28.7k
7. Fusion 28.6k
8. Focus 28.3k
9. Corolla 28.3k (4 less than the Focus)
10. Civic 28.2k

I think that's a big reason for Toyota to put them all under the Prius brand in the USA. With sustained high gas prices it could stick around in the top 10.

What's impressive is the level of sales without the significant discounts offered by some of the competitors.

[ksstathead]

Originally Posted by JusBringIt

That's still just speculation. It could be argued, but we're convicting a "criminal" pre-crime.

Yes, I can argue there is a strong historic correlation between gas price and Prius sales. Other drivers included Cash for Clunkers and the Earthquake/Tsunami.