Seems the market is heating up for the hybrid car...particularly the "original" hybrid car - the Prius. View Release Online Greetings from Toyota! Toyota Reports February Sales 03/01/2007 Torrance, CA March 1, 2007 – Torrance, CA - Spurred by record hybrid sales, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported best-ever February sales of 187,330 vehicles, an increase of 12.2 percent over February 2006. "Sales were brisk at both ends of our product lineup," said Jim Lentz, TMS executive vice president. "Setting an all-time record, the Prius hybrid led the way, nearly doubling last February's sales pace; while the new full-size Tundra got off to an impressive start since hitting showrooms February 5th." The Toyota Division posted best-ever February sales of 164,812, up 13 percent. The Lexus Division reported best-ever February sales of 22,518 units, an increase of 6.6 percent. Toyota Division Toyota Division passenger cars recorded best-ever February sales of 106,429, up 21.1 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales were led by Camry, which posted February sales of 32,148, up 17.5 percent over the same period last year. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 3,332 units in February. The Prius hybrid gas-electric mid-size sedan posted all-time best-ever sales of 12,227, an increase of 87 percent. The Yaris subcompact posted sales totaling 5,702 units for the month. Corolla reported February sales of 28,321, an increase of 12.9 percent. Toyota Division light truck sales were up 2.4 percent, with a best-ever February total of 80,901 units. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), which reported best-ever February sales of 11,643, up 5.2 percent over the same period last year. The all-new Tundra full-size pickup reported sales of 9,669. The Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined February sales of 9,368, up 3.7 percent over the same period last year. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 1,892 units for the month. FJ Cruiser reported February sales of 5,040 units. Scion posted February sales of 8,956 units. The tC sports coupe led the way with February sales of 4,366 units. Scion xB posted sales of 2,868 units for the month. Lexus Division Lexus passenger cars reported best-ever February sales of 13,491 units, an increase of 27 percent over February 2006. Passenger car sales were led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with best-ever February sales of 5,286 units, up 64 percent. The all-new LS 460 reported sales of 2,423, an increase of 138.7 percent. Lexus Division light trucks reported February sales totaling 9,027 units with the RX 350 and RX 400h reporting combined February sales of 7,086 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,249 units for the month. TMS calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 31,933 units, an increase of 67 percent over the year-ago. In February, TMS posted sales of 18,860 hybrid vehicles, up 92 percent over last February. Toyota Division posted sales of 17,451 hybrids, up 90 percent over the same period last year, while the Lexus Division posted sales of 1,409 hybrids. There were 24 selling days this sales month and last February. http://www.hybridcar.com/news/in-the-news/...n-february.html Edited by Danny to include the press release from Toyota.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mike Brosnan @ Mar 1 2007, 05:15 PM) [snapback]398718[/snapback]</div> This is with lower gas prices, less of a tax credit, and no more california carpool stickers. Yup, good job GM in killing that EV.
Didn't Jim Press in an interview said they were aiming to increase the sales 70%? It looks like they outdid themselves. Now the gas prices are going back up, the incentives may disappear. Dennis
You know the anti-hybrid group is going to say that Toyota is giving away the Prius, that is why the sales numbers are good..... :lol:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Geek @ Mar 1 2007, 10:22 PM) [snapback]398854[/snapback]</div> Congratulations on the new car!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Mar 2 2007, 04:55 AM) [snapback]398970[/snapback]</div> Bill, you got another 07. Is it for you or are you still with the 05?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Geek @ Mar 1 2007, 09:22 PM) [snapback]398854[/snapback]</div> Same here. Well actually I "bought" it on the 23rd and took delivery on the 24th.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dipper @ Mar 1 2007, 08:33 PM) [snapback]398830[/snapback]</div> The spin can be rather amusing... especially when their negative intentions backfire. Drawing lots of attention to Prius by telling people it is a bargain could stimulate even more sales!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Mar 2 2007, 07:54 AM) [snapback]399065[/snapback]</div> My wife was suffering Prius envy, so we traded her '03 Sienna in on an '07 Silver Ghost. But I got the new one, she insisted. Let the mods begin! When the weather clears up, I'll take a pic of our two slightly different Silvers together.
I found the record Prius sales in February astonishing, particularly as the 'incentives' are nothing more than low financing deals (no rebates). I guess there were a lot of people that decided not to wait and jumped at the chance to get a Prius when the price of gas began spiking again during the cold weather and the cars were readily available. Plus, I wonder if the daily visibility of Priuses on streets and highways is finally moving it out of the early-adopter and odd-ball category and into the mainstream, and that's what's driving the continued high sales in a market which really shouldn't be sustaining that level. The Prius is priced rather high for its market segment. I know that if not for the $3150 tax credit, I don't think I would have made the leap.
Well with the price of gas jumping 31 cents a gallon in the last three weeks here in Orlando, I suspect many incentives now being offered will quickly go away and it will be a sellers market again. 3-4-07 As I went around town doing my Saturday stuff many stations raised the prices over night 8-15 cents. We now have pricing around $2.50 - $2.60. Same gas just a different day. Glad I filled up at 2.14 three weeks ago. B)
I agree, this recent jump in prices is going to keep pushing people toward better mpg cars and reducing the incentives. Especially when it hits $3 again this summer. AAA already has the average at $2.45 in March. Even with the gas prices being lower and the tax credit reduced, the Prius has still been putting up good sales numbers the last several months. If we are already at 12K for Feb, I imagine we may say 15K or more a month as the gas price continues to increase. Ironic too how just two months ago I heard people saying they didn't think it would get past $2.25 again anytime soon.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(micheal @ Mar 3 2007, 11:02 AM) [snapback]399508[/snapback]</div> I remember a couple of guys here at work bragging about their new Crew Cab trucks too. They got really great deals. Guess what, they don't look as happy as they once did. :lol:
Count me in! Got my 2007 black on Tuesday, 2 days before the great 0% rate ended. I haven't been this excited in a long time!
The subsidized interest rates are in effect until April 1. The incentives will continue. Look for them from GM and Ford.
We did our part. As a result of the combo of under invoice price, low finance, really enjoying our 2005, AND the gas rise (now $3 in Western Los Angeles Co.). We ended buying a new pkg #2, That left me with the 2005--good. Checked Edmunds trade-in numbers. Said $18.6 for the 2005 pkg#1 with 6cd changer added. Emailed a dealer with trade-in number and offer to buy pkg#2 for $300 under Inv. They agreed so bought another 5 days later. Had 6cd changer added to both. Have put stiffening plate on both. With these low finance pkgs, now continued, and good pricing available I'm expecting to see more good sales volumne. There are so many around So. Cal. It reminds me of the "old" days of VW bugs. Carl
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ServoScanMan @ Mar 3 2007, 03:29 PM) [snapback]399534[/snapback]</div> I bet they don't! There are some commercials here about the great deal you can get on a F150 and how the guy has "so much money now." Unless he drives it much I guess. Great if you need, but if you are only getting it because it is a great deal now, I have no sympathy for them when their gas payment is more than their car payment.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eucalyptic @ Mar 3 2007, 02:01 PM) [snapback]399546[/snapback]</div> Well, if you're female (or drag queen, I suppose ), welcome to the "Cool Chicks with Black Prii" club! We're always looking for new clubmates!
