TORRANCE, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2014) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported December 2013 sales results of 190,843 units, an increase of 2.2 percent over December 2012 on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw-volume basis, unadjusted for 25 selling days in December 2013 versus 26 selling days in December 2012, TMS sales decreased 1.7 percent from year-ago month.

Toyota division posted December 2013 sales of 156,086 units, down 0.7 percent year-over-year on a DSR basis. Volume-wise, Toyota division sales decreased 4.6 percent over December 2012.

With the same number of selling days in 2013 and 2012, TMS reported annual sales of 2,236,042 vehicles, up 7.4 percent versus last year on both a DSR and raw-volume basis.

“The auto industry was a consistent bright spot in the economic recovery throughout 2013,” said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager.  “We expect the economy will continue to gain strength in 2014, with car sales rising to pre-recession levels.”

Lexus reported December sales of 34,757 units, an 18.1 percent increase on a DSR basis and a 13.6 percent increase on a raw volume basis, both year-over-year.

“Lexus had its best sales month in seven years and the luxury segment outperformed the overall auto industry in December” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager.  “We expect the luxury market will continue to expand in 2014.”

Other Highlights:

• Camry is best-selling car in America in 2013
• Avalon up more than 20 percent in December; posts triple digit gains annually
• All-new Corolla records monthly sales of more than 22,500 units; up about 4 percent for the year
• TMS hybrids retain about 60 percent of the market and set all-time sales record in 2013
• Prius family posts sales of 15,720 units in December
• Toyota division trucks record best December since 2007; up nearly 11 percent year-over-year
• All-new RAV4 up 46 percent with best-ever December; up 27 percent annually
• Highlander posts monthly sales of more than 12,300 units
• Toyota division pickups up 12 percent for the year
• Tacoma up almost 13 percent annually
• All-new Tundra up more than 7 percent in December; up nearly 11 percent year-over-year
• All-new Lexus IS posts triple-digit gains in December; up 26.4 for the year
• Lexus ES is volume car leader with monthly sales of 8,213 units; up almost 30 percent annually
• Lexus RX posts sales of more than 13,000 units in December; up 9 percent over 2012
• Lexus GX up 30 percent for the month; up 10 percent for the year

*Note:  Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect unadjusted raw sales volume

AURIS, VERSO AND RAV4 EXCEL IN TOYOTA’S 2013 SALES RESULTS

Toyota posted a further increase in its UK sales in 2013, with Auris, Verso and RAV4 delivering particularly strong results in some of the most competitive parts of the market.

The second generation Auris hatchback – built in the UK at Toyota’s Burnaston plant – enjoyed an excellent first full year in the showroom since its launch in late 2012. Customers have responded positively to the appeal of the new model, pushing sales up by almost two thirds year-on-year (64.2 per cent).This performance was the largest year-on-year sales increase of any compact family hatchback.

The figures also reveal that Auris Hybrid has become Britain’s best-selling hybrid model, amassing 6,160 sales in the past year, nearly 40 per cent of all Auris sales. Toyota’s continuing extension of its hybrid technology into the mainstream market included the introduction of Auris Hybrid Touring Sports last spring. The hybrid wagon has quickly proved the most popular in the range, attracting more than double the sales of its petrol and diesel stablemates.

Verso, Toyota’s family-friendly compact MPV, successfully ramped up its customer appeal with a mid-life update during 2013. That helped it secure a sales increase of almost 20 per cent compared to its 2012 performance. This momentum should be maintained during 2014 with the introduction of a new 1.6 D-4D diesel engine to the range, delivering stronger performance, fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

The new RAV4 was an exceptional performer for Toyota last year, ending the year with sales up by 78 per cent. Thanks in large part to the big appeal of the 2.0-litre D-4D two-wheel drive version of the SUV, sales to fleet and business customers soared by 148 per cent.

Aygo is the longest-established model in Toyota’s UK line-up, but age and the presence of many newer rivals in the market have not diminished the city car’s enduring popularity. It achieved the remarkable feat of increasing sales in its eighth year.

Prius Plug-in’s best-of-both-worlds petrol-electric technology proved to be the people’s choice, outselling its nearest rival, the Vauxhall Ampera, by a ratio of more than two-to-one. Overall sales of Toyota’s plug-in hybrid rose by 8.5 per cent compared to 2012.

Total Toyota passenger car sales in 2013 were 88,653, giving the company a 3.9 per cent market share.

STRONG 2013 FOR LEXUS IS AND RX

Sales results for 2013 show customers have been quick to respond to the arrival of the new, fourth generation Lexus IS executive saloon.

The introduction of the all-new range in July, including for the first time in the model’s history a full hybrid model, powered an increase of almost 90 per cent in full year sales, compared to 2012.

Key factors in the IS’s out-of-the-blocks success have been its striking sports styling, high equipment specifications and definitively Lexus contemporary luxury and refinement.

The new IS 300h has further broadened the range’s appeal, in particular with business customers who can enjoy the benefit of class-leading company car tax rates, thanks to low emissions from the Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain. As well as being cleaner and more fuel efficient than its premium market rivals, the IS 300h delivers an impressively quiet and refined drive.

While the new IS has secured early success, the well-established Lexus RX hybrid luxury SUV continues to impress. The current model may be four years into its lifecycle, but a mid-life refresh last summer ensured it maintained plenty of customer appeal. At year-end sales were almost seven per cent ahead of 2012’s results.

Total Lexus UK sales in 2013 were 9,014, equal to a 0.4 per cent share of the total market.

About Toyota
Toyota, the world’s top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands.  Over the past 50 years, we’ve built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ nearly 40,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.3 million cars and trucks in 2012 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.