Toyota hits the ten million hybrid milestone less than a year after hitting 9 million.

• Over Three Million Hybrids Sold in the U.S.

Toyota announced today that it has achieved more than 10 million cumulative units of hybrid vehicle (HV) sales, including plug-in hybrids, as of January 31. The latest milestone was achieved just nine months after total sales reached 9 million units at the end of April 2016.

Toyota Motor North America also saw its sales of hybrids and plug-in hybrids reach a cumulative total, exceeding three million units as of December 31, 2016.

“The Prius stands as an icon for sustainability and efficiency, and is a shining example of what you can achieve when you have the right idea to help solve a problem,” said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor North America. 

“Hybrids remain an important part of our lineup of vehicles, with over 246,000 units sold last year, and we have seen continued demand with the release of the RAV4 Hybrid variant of the popular compact SUV, accounting for nearly 13 percent of its total sales volume in 2016.”

Takeshi Uchiyamada, known as the father of the Prius and co-chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota said, “When we launched Prius, no one even knew what a hybrid was, but, thanks to early adopters, hybrids have ridden a wave of success into the mainstream.” He added, “We are grateful to each and every one of our customers who have helped us achieve this important [global] milestone.”

As of January 31, Toyota estimates that the use of Toyota’s hybrid vehicles, as an alternative to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance has resulted in approximately 77 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions and has saved approximately 7.66 million gallons of gasoline (29 million kiloliters).

More than a numerical milestone, the results demonstrate the staying power of hybrid powertrain technology, which has emerged as a mainstream solution to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Toyota values activities to help reduce the environmental effects of automobiles.  This achievement builds on the belief that widespread adoption of more environmentally-friendly vehicles can make a significant positive impact worldwide.

USA SALES JANUARY - Toyota Motor Sales reports higher sales on few selling days,

• RAV4 continues surge, marks best January
• TMS light trucks set new January record
• Lexus LX, RX, and NX see strong gains

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today reported January 2016 sales. With two fewer selling days in January of 2016, sales were up 3.3 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. Total sales volume for January was 161,283 units, a decrease of 4.7 percent from January 2015 on a volume basis.

Toyota division January 2016 sales were up 4.1 percent on a DSR basis with sales of 140,350 units, down 3.9 percent in volume.

“The industry is off to a healthy start in 2016,” said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager for the Toyota division. “For Toyota Division, RAV4 led the way with a record January and pick-up truck sales continued to rise, setting a new January Toyota division light truck record.”

Lexus reported January 2016 sales of 20,933 units, a decrease of 9.5 percent on a volume basis.

“The appetite for crossovers and SUVs in the luxury market has continued to drive customers to Lexus,” commented Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “In January, our new vehicle sales were propelled by the all-new RX crossover and the NX, which continue to exceed sales forecasts.” 

January 2016 Highlights:

• Combined TMS light truck sales of 84,841, up 4.4 percent
• RAV4 posts best-ever January with sales of 21,554 units; up 8.7 percent
• Highlander reports best January sales since 2008 of 11,258 vehicles
• 4Runner and Sienna up 7.9 and 23 percent respectively
• Tacoma is up 11.5 percent
• Camry sales up year-over-year
• NX up 11.4 percent
• RX up 5.9 percent at 6,956 units
• LX up 99.7 percent

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

WORLDWIDE SALES 2015 - Lexus ends the year with sales 12% up on the previous year, 2016 will be bigger.

Lexus International today announced it sold approximately 652,000 vehicles globally in 2015, up 12 percent from 2014. A full year of the all new RC and NX sales, and the introductions of redesigned ES, RX, and LX models, furthered market share increases in many global markets including Japan, U.S.A., and Europe. 

Sales in Europe increased 20 percent to approximately 64,000 vehicles, the most for a major market in percentage terms; including a 31 percent gain in Western Europe.  Sales in China increased to approximately 88,500 vehicles, a 14 percent increase; and North America sales increased to approximately 368,000 vehicles, a 12 percent gain. 

Accentuating its luxury hybrid leadership, with almost 1 million hybrid Lexus vehicles sold to date, hybrid sales globally were approximately 149,000 vehicles and accounted for 23 percent of sales.

Mark Templin, Executive Vice President at Lexus International said: “2015 was an amazing year for Lexus International.  In addition to the new and redesigned models in our stable, we began rolling out our most advanced vehicle safety portfolio – Lexus Safety System +, and began ES production in North America.  

Our entire vehicle line-up design has evolved to be more bold and emotional, and our brand initiatives are resonating as an extension of the Lexus ownership experience.  We appreciate luxury consumers taking notice and honoring us with a fourth straight year of double digit percentage growth.” 

At Lexus, we believe growth is the product of doing the right things for our customers and building brand advocacy.  The following are just some of the activities we undertook and industry honors received in 2015.

Initiatives

The first INTERSECT BY LEXUS luxury brand experience space outside Japan opened in Dubai, UAE.  This new two story space is located in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). 

Lexus named the first automaker winner of the Milano Design Award for Best Entertaining for its "Lexus – A Journey of the Senses" exhibit at Milan Design Week, the world's largest design exhibition.  Additionally, the first-ever Lexus Design Award Grand Prix winner was announced.

The third Lexus Short Films Series winners announced at the Napa Valley Film Festival.  In 2013, Lexus Short Films was launched with the goal of supporting and nurturing a new generation of emerging filmmakers. 

The ninth annual Lexus Eco Challenge registration opened with a chance to win $500,000 in grants and scholarships.  Through the Lexus Eco Challenge, students will learn about the environment, team work and how they can take steps to make their communities better.

Lexus partnered with leading super conductive technology experts to create one of the most advanced Hoverboards ever.  The Lexus Hoverboard is part of the global ‘Amazing in Motion’ campaign. 

Lexus established “The Lexus Endowment” of $100,000 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), one of 19 schools that offer a PGA Golf Management program that covers a broad range of aspects of the golf enterprise, and the only historically black institution to offer such a program. 

Honors

Lexus named the Luxury Brand with the Best Resale Value in Kelley Blue Book’s 2016 Best Resale Value Awards. This is the fifth year in a row Lexus has been named the luxury brand with the best projected retained value through the initial five-year ownership.  Six 2016 Lexus models were honored with Best Resale Value for their perspective vehicle categories: RC 200t/RC 300/RC 350, ES 300h, GS 200t/GS 350, RX 450h, GX 460, and LX 570. 

The NX 200t was awarded ‘Best Compact Premium SUV’ at the 2015 Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY). 

CT was the overall winner in the Car Environmental List, an annual evaluation by the Traffic Association Germany (VCD). 

Lexus topped the largest car satisfaction surveys, Autoindex, in Sweden and Norway, for the fourth time. 

Lexus dominated the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 survey, receiving six awards including those for best manufacturer and – for the IS saloon – best car. The IS also took the top spot in the best compact executive car category and was the highest­ rated model for ease of driving. The NX was named best car for build quality within its first six months on the road in the UK. 

The independent German institute for environmental research ‘Ökotrend’ (Ecological Trend) and the car magazine ‘Auto Test’ recognized the GS 300h as the most ecological car in the premium middle class.  The evaluation of the vehicle’s environmental performance was conducted based on its fuel consumption and emissions for its entire life cycle, including production, logistics and recycling. 

RX achieved the best-ever pedestrian protection score out of all large SUVs ever tested by Euro NCAP and achieves a 5 –Star rating.

CT , ES, RC, and NX, earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+, IIHS’s highest recognition for crashworthiness and front crash prevention.  

Lexus ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a fourth consecutive year in the 2015 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The ES ranked highest in the Compact Premium Car segment and the GX was awarded among Midsize Premium SUVs.  The ES was the highest ranked model among all vehicles in the study.  

Product Highlights

Lexus Safety System +, a portfolio of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of vehicle speeds package began rolling out in Japan, North America and Europe.

ES 350 production began in Georgetown Kentucky.  

Regional Highlights

Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributor of Lexus in the UAE, officially inaugurated a new facility in Ras Al Khaimah, making it the first Lexus 3S Centre in the UAE (sales, service and spare parts) and bringing to 17 the total number of Lexus facilities in the UAE. 

2015 was the first full year of sales in Vietnam, after opening our first dealership in Ho Chi Minh City followed by Hanoi in 2014

Approved in July 2015, Lexus’ first dealership in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, opened its doors at a temporary location in November.  A newly constructed Lexus showroom and service facility will open later this year.

Sales by Region

North America:  Approximately 368,000 vehicles, 12 percent increase

China:  Approximately 88,500 vehicles, 14 percent increase

Europe:  Approximately 64,000 vehicles, 20 percent increase

Japan:  Approximately 48,000 vehicles, 9 percent increase

Middle East:  Approximately 44,400 vehicles, 5 percent increase

East Asia and Oceania: Approximately 30,000 vehicles, 10 percent increase

Other markets combined:  Approximately 9,400 vehicles, 26 percent increase

US SALES 2015 - TOYOTA/LEXUS - Another brand and more growth, with some models up over a quarter.

• Toyota and Lexus post best-ever December sales
• TMS light trucks set new December record
• Toyota Division No. 1 retail brand in 2015

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported December 2015 sales of 238,350, an increase of 10.8 percent from December 2014 on a volume basis. With two additional selling days in December of 2015, sales were up 2.9 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. 

For the year TMS reported sales of 2,499,313 units, a 5.3 percent increase.

Toyota Division posted record December 2015 sales of 196,970 units, up 12.4 percent. For the year, Toyota Division sales of 2,154,712 were up 4.5 percent.

“2015 was a standout year for the auto industry,” said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager for the Toyota division. “Best-ever light truck sales helped the Toyota division earn the retail sales crown for the fourth consecutive year.”

Lexus reported all-time, any-month record sales in December of 41,380 units, a 3.8 percent increase.  For the year, Lexus sales of 344,601 units were up 10.7 percent.

“December closed out an all-time, best-ever year with sales we couldn’t have predicted,” said Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager for the Lexus division. “Lexus’ SUV sales momentum and the strength of our product lineup has us well positioned for 2016.”

“Next week in Detroit, we will debut a Lexus vehicle that opens a new chapter for an even brighter future,” Bracken added.    

December 2015 Highlights:

• Toyota and Lexus post best-ever sales December sales
• Combined TMS light truck sales set December record
• RAV4 posts best-ever December with sales of 31,866 units; up 38.6 percent
• Highlander reports best-ever December with sales of 16,100 units
• NX up 76.7 percent; 5,134 units sold  
• LX up nearly 80 percent
• GS posts sales of 3,423 units
• Lexus Certified Used Vehicles reports best-ever month

2015 CY Highlights

• Best-ever year for Corolla, with sales of 363,332 units
• Best-ever year for RAV4 and Highlander, up 17.8 and 8.8 respectfully
• 4Runner sales up 26.2 percent
• Tacoma sales up 15.8, with sales of nearly 180,000 units
• Camry best-selling passenger car in America for 14th straight year
• Lexus luxury utility vehicles sales up 26.5 percent
• GX up 11.1 percent

Yes you can see right, the Lexus NX does have sold ice wheels and tyres, and yes it is being driven.

• The concept of driving on ice has taken on a whole new meaning for Lexus, which has crafted the world’s first set of working wheels and tyres made from frozen water.

True to its mission of “creating amazing” and inspired by the craftsmanship that goes into every vehicle it makes, Lexus commissioned a team of ice sculpture specialists to explore how ice could be used in place of conventional alloy metal and rubber.

After three months’ research, design and testing, the finished wheels were fitted to a Lexus NX for the ultimate ice drive. The car itself was deep-frozen, stored for five days at -30°C (it started first time) before being driven off down a London road.

 

The addition of in-wheel LED lighting added an extra dramatic dimension to the cutting-edge contemporary styling of the NX.

USA SALES NOVEMBER - TOYOTA/LEXUS/SCION - Double digit growth for the group keeps coming.

• Toyota Division light trucks post best-ever November
• RAV4 has best-ever November sales month
• Scion posts double-digit gains

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported November 2015 sales up 12.4 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis, with sales of 189,517 units. On a raw volume basis, with two less selling days in November 2015 than in November 2014, sales were up 3.4 percent.

Toyota Division posted November 2015 sales up 11.7 percent on a DSR basis with sales of 160,177 units, up 2.8 percent on a volume basis. 

"The auto industry is on-track to exceed 2015 expectations," said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager for the Toyota Division. "With the best Black Friday weekend in eight years, Toyota’s record sales of RAV4 and Light Trucks overall contributed to double-digit growth in November." 

                                    

Lexus reported November 2015 sales up 16.1 percent on a DSR basis with sales of 29,340 units, up 6.8 percent on a volume basis.

“Lexus had its best November sales in the brand’s history with record performances in sales, parts, service, customer care and vehicle quality,” said Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “Considering the industry momentum and the strong early sales pace of the 2016 RX, Lexus is well positioned to post its best-ever calendar year sales.”

November 2015 Highlights:

• Camry posted sales of 30,945 units, up 7.3 percent
• All-new Scion iA and iM posted combined sales of 2,876 units
• Total Toyota Division light trucks up 5.5 percent; a best-ever November  
• Highlander posted sales of 12,741 units  
• 4Runner up 5.6 percent
• RAV4 up almost 30 percent; a best-ever November
• Tacoma posted sales of 13,465 units, up 3.4 percent
• RC up 45.7 percent
• Lexus luxury utility vehicles up over 37 percent
• NX posted sales of 3,284 units

USA SALES AUGUST - TOYOTA/LEXUS - The auto giants woes continue with a big drop in monthly sales.

• Highlander and Tacoma Post Best August Sales Since 2003
• Lexus posts Best-Ever August Sales

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported August 2015 sales of 224,381 units, a decrease of 8.8 percent from August 2014 on a volume basis.  With one less selling day in August 2015 than in August 2014, sales were down 5.3 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. 

Toyota Division posted August 2015 sales of 190,894 units, down 10.5 percent on a volume and 7.1 percent on a DSR basis. 

"Consumer confidence is at its highest level since January, despite predicted slower August industry sales,” said Bill Fay, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “For the Toyota Division, Tacoma and Highlander had their best sales month since 2003. In September, we are excited for the launch of the all-new Scion iM, iA and the 2016 Tacoma.”

Lexus reported August sales of 33,487 units, up 2.1 percent from August 2014 on a volume basis and 6.0 percent on a DSR basis. 

"The luxury market continued its hot streak last month," said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "In August, Lexus had a best-ever sales month, led by the all-new NX and RC."

August 2015 Highlights:

• Corolla posted sales of 31,726 units
• Camry August sales were 37,592 units
• Total TMS light trucks posted sales of 93,575 units
• Highlander up more than 16 percent
• 4Runner up over 15 percent
• RAV4 posted sales of 30,534 units
• Sequoia posted sales of 1,048 units
• Combined Tacoma and Tundra pickup sales up 0.4 percent
• Lexus luxury utility vehicles up 15.2 percent
• All-new NX posted sales of 4,448 units
• All-new RC posted sales of 1,337 units
• GX posted sales of 2,221 units

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