Toyota Leads Asian Carmakers to U.S. Record Share

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., spurred by new car models, helped Asian auto brands win a record share of the U.S. market in October as sales plunged for General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.

Gains at Toyota and Honda boosted the combined market share for Japanese and South Korean automakers to 40 percent, up from 35.9 percent a year earlier, while the combined U.S. share of GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler fell to a historic low of 52.4 percent in October.

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Toyota's passenger car sales rose 8.5 percent, led by higher demand for Avalons, hybrid-electric Prius hatchbacks and luxury Lexus GS and IS cars. The company's combined sales of sport-utility vehicles, minivans and pickups fell 7.6 percent.


Bloomberg

 

I posted this article in the infamous Smoke and Mirrors thread, but I'd thought I'd give it it's own news article because it's so revealing...

It's got some really good analysis as to why Toyota and Honda are holding up in this climate while GM and Ford are suffering.

In short, Toyota and Honda are diverse, and have a more favorable split between more fuel efficient passenger cars and the gas guzzling SUV and truck.