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In the U.S. in
May 2007, Toyota Sales Soar to New Monthly Record; Honda Sets New May Record;
Big Three Sales Mixed
Auto on Info June 2007
In the U.S. in May 2007, Toyota Sales Soar to New Monthly Record; Honda Sets New May Record; Big Three Sales Mixed
By James B. Bleeker
Toyota Motor Corporation, with a 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank average of .90, saw its U.S. auto sales rise 10% in May 2007, over those of May 2006, to set a new monthly U.S. record. Its May U.S. car sales rose 12%, and its U.S. light truck - SUV, minivan, and pickup - sales rose 7%.
The following table provides detailed information regarding Toyota Motor Corporation's U.S. sales in the month of May 2007, together with 1998-2002 model, line, and manufacturer Reliability Percentrank averages. Those models that were among July 2006's Hottest Ten, per WSJ's lot-stay time, for all manufacturers, are in bold blue. That model that received CAA's most recent Pyramid Award for ownership satisfaction is italicized.
Table I: Toyota Motor Corporation's May 2007 U.S. Unit Sales and Daily-Selling-Rate Percentage Changes, TMC's Year-to-Date U.S. Unit Sales and Daily-Selling-Rate Percentage Changes, and 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank Averages, by Line, Type, and Model Manu-facturer Divi-sion Type of Vehicle Model and (distinctions) May Unit Sales Volume Percent-age Change for May 2007 from May 2006 Year-to-Date Unit Sales Volume Year-to-Date Percent-age Change 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank Average Toyota Motor Corporation 269,023 9.7% 1,085,335 7.6% .90 Scion Division 11,570 -38.5% 48,468 -31.2% N/A xA (R05) 1,297 -68.2% 8,096 -44.3% N/A xB (R05, R07, GW07) 3,658 -48.0% 13,331 -48.0% N/A tC 6,615 -14.2% 27,041 -10.8% N/A Toyota Division 225,606 15.6% 905,534 11.2% .90 Passenger Car 136,757 21.2% 505,599 16.7% N/A Avalon (GS07, GC07) 6,435 -19.1% 31,861 -17.7% .89 Camry (4-cyl.: R05, R06, RV07, 4-cyl. hybrid: GD07) 50,1267 11.8% 193,900 8.6% .889 Corolla (R05, R06, R07, RV07, 5-spd manual: GD07) 45,238 4.7% 165,722 2.8% .91 Prius (T05, T06, T07, R05, R06, R07, RV07, GT07, GD07, GW07, GS07, GC07) 24,009 184.9% 76,747 98.0% .861 Yaris2 (R05, R07, RV07, 5-spd manual: GD07) 10,949 30.5% 37,367 134.7% N/A Light Truck 88,849 8.0% 399,935 5.0% N/A RAV4 (SUV) (T07, R05, R06, R07, 4-cyl.: RV07, RIT) 16,547 13.5% 72,447 16.3% .94 Sienna (minivan) (T07, GS07) 12,837 -5.8% 60,569 -10.8% .81 Highlander (mid-size SUV) (R05, R06, R07, GS07, 4-cyl.: GW07, 6-cyl.: RV07, hybrid: T06, T07) 11,9918 6.7% 53,496 4.2% .991,10 FJ Cruiser (SUV) (R07) 4,639 -33.1% 25,271 66.0% N/A 4Runner (SUV) (R07, 6-cyl.: RV07, GS07) 6,908 -25.3% 37,938 -18.6% .9411 Land Cruiser (large SUV) (R05, R06, RV07, RIT) 205 -23.3% 1,078 -23.4% .92 Tundra (pickup truck) (R05, R06, 6-cyl.: GW07, GS07, GC07) 17,727 113.8% 61,113 24.7% .9412 Tacoma (pickup truck) (V6: RIT) 16,028 3.8% 77,127 6.5% .9413 Lexus Division 31,847 2.1% 131,333 5.9% .92 Passenger Car 19,943 4.8% 81,453 20.6% N/A ES (T07A, R07, RV07, RIT) 8,572 -13.7% 33,166 31.9% .96 LS (T05, R05, R06, R07, RV07, RIT) 3,196 183.2% 14,941 160.0% .98 GS (R06) 2,0436 -20.0% 9,147 -19.7% .963 SC (hardtop convertible) (R05, R06, R07) 410 -33.5% 1,705 -33.8% .851 IS (R05, R06) 5,7224 19.5% 22,494 -0.7% .911 Light Truck 11,904 -2.2% 49,880 -11.7% N/A RX (SUV) (T05, RIT, GS07) 9,7985 0.9% 39,892 -9.3% .93 GX (SUV) 1,842 -6.8% 8,658 -13.9% N/A LX (large SUV) (R05) 264 -46.1% 1,330 -46.4% .87 Note: Percentage changes are daily selling rate percentage changes from previous year's version of the model, and Corolla sales total includes Matrix wagon. 1Based on data for 2 or fewer model years 2Includes data for preceding model number 3The GS 300 and the GS 430 have pooled reliability data and consequently a common Reliability Percentrank. 4The May sales breakdown of the IS 250 and the IS 350 was unstated. 5The RX 350 had May sales of 8,052 and RX 400h - 1,746. 6The GS 350 had May sales of 1,854 and the GS 430 and the hybrid GS 450h had combined May sales of 189. 7The non-hybrid Camry had May sales of 43,273 and the Camry hybrid - 6,853. 8The non-hybrid Highlander had May sales of 8,679 and the Highlander hybrid - 3,312. 9The 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank for the 4-cylinder Camry is .88, that for the Camry Solara is .90, and that for the V6 Camry is unavailable. 10The 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank for the V8 Highlander is .98. 11This 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank is for the V6 4Runner. 12The 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank for the V8 Tundra is .86. 13This 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank for the V6 Tacoma is .93. Bold blue script indicates that the model was in July 2006's Hottest Ten, for all models of all manufacturers. Italicized script indicates that the model received CAA's most recent Pyramid Award for ownership satisfaction. T05 denotes a Consumer Reports 2005 Top Pick, T06 - a CR 2006 Top Pick, T07 - a CR 2007 Top Pick, T05 - a CR 2005 Top Pick in the Green Car category, T06 - a CR 2006 Top Pick in the Green Car category, T07 - a CR 2007 Top Pick in the Green Car category, T05A - a CR 2005 Top Pick alternate, T06A - a CR 2006 Top Pick alternate, and T07A - a CR 2007 Top Pick alternate. R05 denotes that Consumer Reports accorded the 2005 model its highest predicted short-term reliability, R06 - that CR accorded the 2006 model its highest predicted short-term reliability, and R07 - that CR accorded the 2007 model its highest predicted short-term reliability. RV07 denotes a best model by CR's 2007 Reliability Verdicts. RIT denotes a top-ten model by the 2007 Reliability Index. GT07 denotes that it is one of two current models that have reduced exhaust emissions sufficiently to receive a permit to use the car pool lanes on Arizona's freeways. (See "Cleaning Arizona Air: The Exclusive Three," Auto on Info, March 2007.) GD07 denotes that the model, or specified edition of the model, is on GreenerCars.com's top dozen green cars. GW07 denotes that the model, or specified edition of the model, is best in category on global warming performance, by the Union of Concerned Scientists, GS07 denotes best in category on smog performance, and GC07 denotes best in category on combined environmental performance. (See "By Yet Another Quality Measure, Toyota and Honda Are Best and GM and DaimlerChrysler - Worst: The UCS 2007 Environmental Report," Auto on Info, April 2007.) To view a table providing Toyota's models on Consumer Reports' list of 2007 models having the highest predicted short-term reliability, go to "By CR's Predicted Short-Term Reliability for Model Year 2007, Toyota and Honda Dominate Best and GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler Dominate Worst, per Detroit News Table," Auto on Info, November 2006. The Toyota Motor Corporation models showing the largest sales gains in May 2007 over May 2006 were the original hybrid Toyota Prius, up 184.9% to 24,009, the Lexus LS 460, up 183.2% to 3,196, the Toyota Tundra large pickup truck, up 113.8% to 17,727, the Toyota Yaris, up 30.5% to 10,949, the Lexus IS, up 19.5% to 5,722, the Toyota RAV4 small sport-utility vehicle, up 13.5% to 16,547, the Toyota Camry, up 11.8% to 50,126, the Toyota Highlander midsize sport-utility vehicle, up 6.7% to 11,991, and the legendary Toyota Corolla small car, up 4.7% to 45,238.
Toyota's Hottest Sellers in May 2007 Toyota Prius Lexus LS 460 Toyota Tundra Toyota Yaris Lexus IS 350 Toyota RAV4 Toyota Camry Toyota Camry Hybrid Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Corolla The above photos are of the 2007 models and the above links are to onsite review pages of either the 2006 models (highlighted) or the 2007 models (not highlighted). The Toyota Prius, up 184.9% for the month, is Toyota's original gas-electric hybrid. The extraordinary popularity of the post-2004 editions is likely a consequence of a combination of factors. First, the post-2004 Prius is a midsize sedan. Second, it employs new gas-electric power-train technology that delivers more power and performs greater work per unit of energy source. This gives it an acceleration comparable to that of the Camry midsize sedan and increases its estimated EPA rating for in-city driving from 55 miles per gallon to 60 miles per gallon.1 In short, the post-2004 editions of the Prius are a bigger car with better gas mileage than its pre-2004 editions. Third, the Prius is a Consumer Reports 2005 Top Pick (green car category), a CR 2006 Top Pick (green car category), a CR 2007 Top Pick (green car category), a recipient of a CR's 2007 "Most Reliable" rating for predicted short-term reliability, a recipient of a CR's 2007 highest ownership satisfaction rating for predicted short-term satisfaction, a recipient of a CR's 2007 highest crash protection rating, a UCS 2007 Best on Global Warming Performance in midsize car category, a UCS 2007 Best on Smog Performance in midsize car category, a UCS 2007 Best on Combined Environmental Performance in midsize car category, one of Arizona's two "green cars" for car pool lane usage, and No. 2 on GreenerCars.com's greenest dozen.
The Toyota Corolla, up 4.7% for the month, is an internationally renowned 40-year legend of reliability, durability (see "Site Manager Replaces Corolla Transmission: 1984 Torque Converter Expires at 478,943 Miles," Auto on Info, June 2005 and "Site Manager's 1984 Corolla Passes 500,000 Mark," Auto on Info, October 2006), and pleasing performance and appearance. As a buyer from Africa at Dubai's mid-eastern auto mart Ducamz put it: Everyone wants one. Indeed, life may not be complete without having owned a Corolla, and life may be appreciably less interesting without having owned the same one for at least 20 years and 400,000 miles.
The likelihood of finding a 2007 made-in-Japan Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, or Lexus RX350 on a U.S. dealer lot is not good; Toyota Motor Corporation reports that 89.2% of the Corollas sold in the U.S. through May 2007 were made in North America, 81.6% of the Camrys sold in the U.S. through May 2007 were made in North America, and 87.0% of the RX350s sold in the U.S. through May 2007 were made in North America. If made-in-Japan is an uncompromisable criterion, most likely the U.S. consumer will have to buy used, if a Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, or Lexus RX350 is his/her desire. (However, the consumer may try telling the dealership, "Look for it. If you can't find it, there's no sale.") U.S. consumers looking for a made-in-Japan 2007 Toyota Avalon are without any hope, as all of the Toyota Avalons sold in the U.S. are made in North America. Currently, all Yaris sold in the U.S. are made abroad; however, Toyota plans North American production of this model, so it may behoove U.S. consumers eyeing the Yaris to buy it within the next two years.
Honda Motor Company, with a 1998-2002 RPA of .88, set a new May U.S. sales record; however, on a daily selling rate basis, its May 2007 U.S. auto sales fell 1% to 145,367. Honda Motor Company's models showing the largest sales gains in May 2007 over May 2006 were the Honda Civic Hybrid (a 2007 CR Top Pick alternate in Green Car category, a 2007 CR Top Pick in Small Sedan category, a recipient of a CR's 2007 "Most Reliable" rating for predicted short-term reliability, a recipient of a CR's 2007 highest ownership satisfaction rating for predicted short-term satisfaction, a recipient of a CR's 2007 second-highest accident avoidance rating from road test performance, a recipient of a CR's 2007 highest crash protection rating, one of Arizona's two "green cars" for car pool lane usage, and No. 3 on GreenerCars.com's greenest dozen), up 50.4% to 4,520, the Honda CR-V small sport-utility vehicle (with a 1998-2002 RPA of .97 and a CR 2006 comfort-versatility-and-snow-traction Quick Pick, a CR 2007 All-Around-Competence Quick Pick, a 2007 CR Top Pick runner-up, a recipient of CR's 2007 highest rating for predicted short-term reliability, a recipient of CR's 2007 second-highest rating for predicted short-term ownership satisfaction, a recipient of CR's 2007 second-highest accident avoidance rating by road test performance, and a recipient of CR's 2007 highest crash protection rating, a best motor vehicle model by CR's 2007 Reliability Verdicts, a top ten by the 2007 Reliability Index), up 35.9% to 19,513, and the non-hybrid Honda Civic (a 2007 CR Top Pick in Small Sedan category, with the EX accorded a predicted short-term reliability in CR's second-highest category, an ownership-satisfaction rating in CR's highest category and an accident avoidance rating in CR's second-highest category, with the automatic transmission version of the DX, LX, and EX sedan placing within GreenerCars.com's greenest dozen, and with the natural gas GX edition placing No. 1 on GreenerCars.com's greenest dozen), up 30.6% to 35,473.
Honda's Hottest Sellers in May 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Honda CR-V Honda Civic DX, LX, and EX Sedans Honda Civic Si Sedan Honda Civic GX The above photos are of the 2007 models and the above links are to onsite review pages of the 2007 models. Through May 2007, the Honda Odyssey minivan outsold the Toyota Sienna by 4,253 vehicles, or 7.0%, and the Honda CR-V small sport-utility vehicle outsold the Toyota RAV4 by 12,017 vehicles, or 16.6%. Both of the latter two have solid reliability histories; the Honda CR-V has a 1998-2002 RPA of .97 and a CR 2007 predicted short-term reliability in the highest category and the Toyota RAV4 has a 1998-2002 RPA of .94 and a CR 2007 predicted short-term reliability in the highest category. With regard to the reliability of the minivans, the Honda Odyssey has not fared well of late. Its 1999-2002 Reliability Percentrank average is only .70 (in contrast to its 1995-1998 RPA of .965 and in contrast to the Toyota Sienna's 1999-2002 Reliability Percentrank average of .825) and Consumer Reports accords its 2007 model year a predicted short-term reliability of only average (in contrast to Sienna's above average), something of a disaster for a Honda-engineered product. However, only time will tell what the 2007 Odyssey's actual short-term (1-to-3-year) reliability, mid-term (4-to-6-year) reliability, and longer term (7-to-8-year) reliability will be.
Subaru division of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., with a 1998-2002 RPA of .75, saw its May 2007 U.S. auto sales fall 5%.
Nissan Motor Company, with a 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank average of .73, saw its May 2007 U.S. auto sales rise 3%. Its car sales rose 20%, but its light truck sales fell 18%. Sales by its Infiniti division, with a 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank average of .87, rose 6%; sales of Infiniti cars rose 8%, but
