Toyota Continues Downward Slide -6.3% Lexus -9.3% In February

"Spurred in part by rising fuel prices, Toyota’s fuel-efficient models and hybrids, the mainstay of our lineup, continue to show strength," said TMS President Jim Lentz.

The Toyota Division posted February sales of 160,892, a decrease of 6.3 percent from last February. The Lexus Division reported February sales of 21,277 units, a decrease of 9.3 percent from the year-ago month.

Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded February sales of 89,723 units, down 7.3 percent from last February. Passenger-car sales were led by Camry, which posted best-ever February sales of 34,914, an increase of 4.3 percent over the same period last year. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 4,121 units in February, up 19 percent over February 2007. The Prius hybrid gas-electric mid-size sedan posted February sales of 10,895, a decrease of 14.5 percent from last February. Yaris reported best-ever February sales of 9,758 units, up 64.3 percent over the year-ago month.

Toyota Division light truck sales were down 4.9 percent, with February sales of 71,169 units. Light truck sales were led by the Tundra full-size pickup with best-ever February sales of 14,400, an increase of 43 percent over last February. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 10,513 in February, up 7.7 percent over the year-ago month. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 1,938 units for the month. Sequoia posted sales of 2,617 units for the month, up 8.7 percent over the same period last year.

Scion posted February sales of 8,883 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with February sales of 3,824 units, an increase of 28 percent over last February. The tC sports coupe, entering its fourth model year, posted February sales of 3,261 units.

Lexus Division
Lexus passenger cars reported February sales of 12,203 units, a decrease of 13.2 percent from February 2007. Passenger-car sales were led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with February sales of 4,795 units. The IS 250/350 luxury sport sedan reported sales of 3,906 units, including 208 units sold of the all-new IS F luxury performance sedan. The LS 460/460 L and new LS 600h L luxury sedans reported combined sales of 1,891 units. The LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan posted sales of 112 units for the month. The GS 350 luxury sport sedan had sales of 1,201 units, while the GS 460/450h posted combined sales of 221 units, an increase of 21.2 percent.

Lexus Division light trucks reported February sales totaling 9,074 units, a decrease of 3.5 percent from the year-ago month. The all-new LX 570 enjoyed sales of 569 units, an increase of 103.1 percent. The RX 350 and RX 400h posted combined February sales of 6,956 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,148 units for the month.

TMS Hybrids
TMS posted February sales of 18,289 hybrid vehicles, a decrease of seven percent from last February. Toyota Division posted sales of 16,952 hybrids while Lexus Division posted sales of 1,337 hybrids.