May 2007 US Auto Sales: International Brands Earn 48.2 Percent Share; Toyota Takes No. 2 Spot
 |
Special to The Auto Channel
By AIADA
Staff
Small cars ruled the roost this May, up 11.7 percent as a group for the month, providing a boost to several International automakers whose dealerships felt the sting of two less selling days in April. As a group, International brands saw May sales rise 7.2 percent for a total of 753,081 units. As a result, International brands took 48.2 percent of the total U.S. market for autos in May, which reached 1,563,941 overall units.
Ever growing interest in its sporty Yaris
subcompact and hybrids [Note: Prius and Camry hybrid sales were up 196.3
percent and 126 percent, respectively] helped
Toyota Motor Sales sold 36,101 hybrid vehicles
in May, up over 100 percent compared to last May. Toyota Division posted
sales of 34,174 hybrids, up over 120 percent over the same period last
year, while Lexus Division posted sales of 1,927
hybrids.
American Honda and Nissan were also up for the
month, following Ford and DaimlerChrysler for the No. 5 and No. 6 sales
spots in May. All-time sales records were reached by Honda’s compact
Civic and subcompact Fit en route to Honda’s best-ever May with
145,367 units. Sales of the Nissan Versa reached 9,039 units, helping
Nissan’s group sales to rise 7.4 percentage points for a total of
93,062 units in May.
German groups Volkswagen AG and BMW also proved
successful in May, up 6.3 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. Small
proved hip for Volkswagen too, as sales of its Rabbit/Golf reached a total
of 3,860 units. BMW sales were helped in large part to 3-Series sales.
Sales of the 3-Series convertible alone reached 2,887 units for the month,
an increase of 139.8 percent. Coupe sales were up 192.6 percent for a total
of 2,180 units. BMW’s small Mini car sales were also strong in May,
up 12.5 percent for a total of 4,130 units.
For all those keeping an eye on Mitsubishi, May
was another month in a series of good months for the Japanese brand as
sales grew another 15.5 percent off of sales of the Mitsubishi Outlander
SUV (up 123.6 percent to 2,095 units) and the Lancer sedan (up 160.7
percent for 4,312 units).
See below, for a complete
breakdown of May 2007 monthly sales by International nameplate (based on
unadjusted data):
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded all-time
best-ever sales of 148,327, an increase of 17.2 percent over last May.
Passenger car sales were led by Camry, which posted best-ever May sales of
50,126. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 6,853 units in May, an increase of
126 percent. The Prius hybrid gas-electric mid-size sedan posted all-time
best-ever sales of 24,009, an increase of 196.3 percent over May 2006. The
Yaris subcompact reported an increase of 35.8 percent, posting best-ever
May sales of 10,949 units. Corolla reported all-time best-ever sales of
45,238 units, an increase of 8.9 percent over May
2006.
Toyota Division light truck sales were up 12.3
percent, with a best-ever May total of 88,849 units. Light truck sales were
led by the RAV4 compact SUV, which reported best-ever May sales of 16,547,
up 18.1 percent over the same period last year. The all-new Tundra
full-size pickup reported all-time best-ever sales of 17,727, an increase
of 122.3 percent over May 2006. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted
combined May sales of 11,991.The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size
SUV reported sales of 3,312 units for the month. FJ Cruiser reported May
sales of 4,639 units.
Scion
Scion posted May sales of 11,570 units. The tC
sports coupe led the way with May sales of 6,615 units. The xB urban
utility vehicle posted sales of 3,658 units for the
month.
Lexus
The Lexus Division reported best-ever May sales
of 31,847 units, an increase of 6.2 percent. Lexus passenger cars reported best-ever May
sales of 19,943 units, an increase of 9 percent over May 2006. Passenger
car sales were led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with May sales of 8,572
units. The all-new LS 460 and LS 460 L reported combined sales of 3,196, an
increase of 194.6 percent over last May. Combined sales of the IS 250 and
IS 350 posted all-time best-ever sales of 5,722 units, up 24.3 percent over
May 2006. Lexus
Division light trucks reported May sales totaling 11,904 units, up 1.7
percent. The RX 350 and RX 400h enjoyed combined best-ever May sales of
9,798 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of
1,746 units for the month.
Honda
Record May sales for American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc., increased to 145,367, up 2.5 percent from May 2006, breaking the
previous May record set in 2004. The Honda Division posted record May sales of 129,447,
up 3 percent from May 2006.
Honda Division’s new May record was
bolstered by all-time record sales of the compact Civic and subcompact Fit
and a new May record for the CR-V crossover SUV -- the best-selling SUV in
the U.S. Civic sales of 39,993, up 32.6 percent for the month, shattered an
all-time record of 36,533 set in August 2001. Civic Hybrid sales of 4,520,
up 50.4 percent, also broke the all- time record of 4,146 set in August
2005. Record May CR-V sales increased by 35.9 percent to 19,513. Fit sales
of 5,361 achieved a new all-time record.
Additional large volume Honda Division products
for May include the Accord with 31,915 units; Odyssey with 15,235 units;
and Pilot with 10,133 units. Ridgeline and Element volume respectively
totaled 3,600 units and 3,187 units. Year-to-date, Honda Division sales of
551,220 are up 3.3 percent with total car sales increasing by 4.8 percent
and light truck sales increasing by 1.5 percent.
Acura
Acura Division sales totaled 15,920 units in May, a drop of 1.6 percent. The recent introductions of the completely redesigned MDX luxury SUV and all-new RDX crossover SUV pushed Acura light truck sales up an incredible 89.9 percent to 6,635 units. The MDX posted strong May sales of 4,623 units, up 32.3 percent over May 2006. RDX sales totaled 2,012 units for the month.
Nissan
Nissan North America reported sales of 93,062
units in May, up 7.4 percent from the prior year. May sales for Nissan Division
vehicles of 82,314 units increased by 7.1 percent over last year. Passenger car sales for the
brand rose 26.8 percent on stellar performances from the Altima and Sentra
models. The
Altima continued to build momentum with sales of 23,980 units, up over
5 percent from
last year. Sentra
sales increased by 17 percent with sales of 12,758 units. Sales of the new Versa
subcompact reached 9,039 units.
Infiniti
Sales for Infiniti were up 9.8 percent, with 10,748 units sold. Both passenger car sales and light truck sales were up for the luxury brand, 12.6 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. The all-new G Sedan contributed sales of 5,007 units, up 78.8 percent over last May. FX35/45 SUV sales were up 38.4 percent for a total of 2,106 units.
Hyundai
Hyundai Motor America reported sales of 43,885
units for the month of May, up three percentage points and representing the
best May sales in company history. Hyundai’s all-new 2007
Kia
Kia Motors America reported its best May ever
with sales of 28,494 units, a 7.5 percent increase over the same period
last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 128,104 units at the close of
May, also a 7.5 percent increase over the same 5-month period last year.
Sales for the month were led by the Kia Spectra at 8,512 units, showing its
best month of the year.
The Sportage SUV and
BMW
The BMW Group recorded strong strong sales in May, rising as a group 8.6 percent for a total of 30,834 units. Year-to-date sales for the BMW Group reached 135,072 units at the end of May for a jump of 4.2 percent.
BMW brand sales in May rose 8.1 percent for a total of 26,689 units. Year-to-date, BMW brand sales are up 5.6 percent on the sale of 119,359 units for the first five months of 2007. BMW’s passenger car sales are up 9 percent in May to 21,421 units. BMW BMW SUV sales are also up. Helped by several models, sales reached 5,268 in the truck division for a total increase of 4.5 percent over last May.
MINI
MINI USA reached May sales of 4,130 units, up
12.5 percent over May 2006. Year-to-date, MINI sales are down 5.4 percent
for a total of 15,585 units.
Mercedes-Benz
Passenger car sales rose 2.7 percent for a total
of 15,704 units in May. The strongest performing models for the month
included the volume-leader C-Class with an 18.7 percent increase over last
May for 5,139 units. The CLK-Class marked impressive gains with a 37.4
percent increase, and the E-Class rose 0.8 percent with sales of 4,102
units.In the
light truck category, sales of the M-Class SUV jumped 14.2 percent in May
to 2,601 units.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi is proving to be a bona fide comeback
kid, exhibiting its seventh consecutive month of sales gains. May sales for
the Japanese brand reached 13,651 units, up 15.5 percent over May 2006,
marking the biggest month of sales in more than two years for
Mitsubishi.
Sales of the all-new fuel-efficient Lancer more
than tripled compared to last May, up 228 percent for a total of 4,028
units. Year-to-date sales of the Lancer are up 94 percent. Outlander sales
more than doubled compared to May 2006, up 123.6 percent. Eclipse Spyder
convertible sales were up rose 26 percent from May.
Subaru
Subaru of America’s May sales reached
16,282 units, a subtle decline of 0.8 percent over May 2006. Sales of the
Impreza model were up 26.3 percent over the same period last year for a
total of 3,981 units.
Subaru Tribeca posted 1,166 units for the month.
Subaru Legacy recorded 7,159 unit sales, while the Outback accounted for
5,206 units of that line for the month. Subaru Forester recorded 3,871
units in May, while Baja posted 105 units for the month. The Subaru Impreza
line, including the Impreza WRX, posted another double digit gain over last
year with 3,981 units sold in May.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen of America, Inc. reported May 2007
sales of 22,325 vehicles, an increase of one percent over May 2006 unit
sales.
May 2007 reflects the best sales month ever for
the retractable hardtop convertible Eos, and the best Rabbit sales month
since re-launch in June 2006. For the Volkswagen
brand overall, May 2007 represents the highest monthly sales volume since
September 2006.
Audi
Audi of America reached record sales for the
month of May on the sale of 8,788 units, marking a 23.4 percent increase
over last year’s figures. It was the highest-selling month so far in
2007 and the luxury brand’s seventh straight month of year-over-year
gains. To date, Audi has sold 37,922 vehicles in 2007, a 17 percent
increase over the previous year.
Dealers reported strong response to the
newly-launched Audi TT models and sales increases for the A4/S4 Cabriolet
and Avant models. The Audi Q7 also continued its strong sales performance
selling 1,958 units.
Mazda
Mazda’s May 2007 sales dropped 2 percent
from last May on 26,788 units. Year-to-date sales for Mazda are up 8.5
percent for a total of 126,922 units.
Leading the volume for Mazda is the MAZDA3, with
sales of 11,316 units. Year-to-date, MAZDA3 sales are up 20.8 percent. MX-5
Miata sales hit 1,959 units, up 7.1 percent year-over-year, and registering
its best May since 2001. CX-7 sales are up 999.9 percent for a total of
3,672 units.
Suzuki
Suzuki sales rose a subtle 0.5 percent in May
thanks in part to a 44.2 percent jump in sales in its truck lineup. Suzuki
XL7 sales rose 57.7 percent for a total of 2,161 units in May. Reno/Forenza
remained the company’s volume leader with 4,514 units
sold.
Porsche
Porsche sales in the
Maserati
Maserati sales reached 235 units last month,
amounting to an increase of 7.3 percentage points. The highly anticipated
Quattroporte sedan contributed 208 units for a rise of 36.8 percent over
May 2006.
Ferrari
Ferrari joined its Italian counterpart with good
news in May, as sales rose 22.6 percent for the brand for a total of 168
units.
Jaguar
Jaguar had a dismal showing in May, with sales
of just 1,379 units, marking a decline of 41.9 percent over May 2006. XK
Series sales continued to lead all others with 461 units. XJ Series sales
reached 317 units for the month, followed closely behind by S Type sales of
316 units.
Volvo
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
reports May sales of 9,208 units* in the
Land
Rover
Land Rover is continuing to bring in the
numbers, rising 7.2 percent in sales in May for a total of 4,269 units.
Ranger Rover Sport sales led all others last month for a total of 1,341
units. Sales of the new LR2 reached 1,025 units, while LR3 sales registered
at 972 units for the month. Range Rover/HSE sales dropped 12.7 percent for
a total of 931 units.
Saab
Saab was down 5.2 percent in May for a total of
2,872 units. 9-3 Series cars continued to be the volume leader for the
brand, up 8.6 percent for a total of 1,913 units.
Isuzu
Isuzu sales rose 10.8 percent in May for a grand
total of 707 units. The Isuzu I Series pickup remained the volume leader
with 446 units, rising 42.9 percent over May 2006. Isuzu Ascender/Trooper
sales reached 260 units in May.
The chart below details sales for International brands in May 2007. Numbers presented are based on unadjusted data for May 2007. [Note: May 2007 had one extra selling day compared to May 2006]
|
Brand |
May-07 |
May-06 |
%Chng |
2007 CYTD |
2006 CYTD |
%Chng |
|
Acura |
15,920
|
16,171
|
-1.6% |
74,774
|
81,194
|
-7.9% |
|
Audi |
8,788
|
7,120
|
23.4% |
37,922
|
32,416
|
17.0% |
|
Bentley |
405
|
432
|
-6.3% |
1,956
|
1,720
|
13.7% |
|
BMW |
26,689
|
24,688
|
8.1% |
119,359 |
113,041 |
5.6% |
|
Ferrari |
168
|
137
|
22.6% |
730
|
568
|
28.5% |
|
Honda |
129,447 |
125,639 |
3.0% |
551,220 |
533,584 |
3.3% |
|
Hyundai |
43,885
|
42,514
|
3.2% |
187,227 |
189,527 |
-1.2% |
|
Infiniti |
10,748
|
9,786
|
9.8% |
53,238
|
48,591
|
9.6% |
|
Isuzu |
707
|
638
|
10.8% |
3,101
|
3,973
|
-21.9% |
|
Jaguar |
1,379
|
2,374
|
-41.9% |
7,051
|
9,489
|
-25.7% |
|
Kia |
28,494
|
26,494
|
7.5% |
128,104 |
119,134 |
7.5% |
|
Land Rover |
4,269
|
3,981
|
7.2% |
18,682
|
19,016
|
-1.8% |
|
Lexus |
31,847
|
29,999
|
6.2% |
131,333 |
123,055 |
6.7% |
|
Maserati |
235
|
219
|
7.3% |
991
|
890
|
11.3% |
|
Maybach [est]
|
15
|
15
|
0.0% |
75
|
75
|
0.0% |
|
Mazda |
26,788
|
27,321
|
-2.0% |
126,922 |
116,977 |
8.5% |
|
Mercedes-Benz |
21,786
|
21,636
|
0.7% |
98,726
|
94,208
|
4.8% |
|
Mini |
4,130
|
3,672
|
12.5% |
15,585
|
16,470
|
-5.4% |
|
Mitsubishi |
13,651
|
11,821
|
15.5% |
57,343
|
48,357
|
18.6% |
|
Nissan |
82,314
|
76,881
|
7.1% |
389,929 |
388,023 |
0.5% |
|
Porsche |
3,348
|
3,272
|
2.3% |
14,592
|
15,730
|
-7.2% |
|
Rolls Royce |
15
|
30
|
-50.0% |
128
|
150
|
-14.7% |
|
Saab |
2,872
|
3,030
|
-5.2% |
12,642
|
14,396
|
-12.2% |
|
Subaru |
16,282
|
16,406
|
-0.8% |
73,044
|
77,546
|
-5.8% |
|
Suzuki |
10,190
|
10,135
|
0.5% |
47,163
|
47,443
|
-0.6% |
|
Toyota |
237,176 |
205,709 |
15.3% |
954,002 |
877,469 |
8.7% |
|
Volkswagen |
22,325
|
22,100
|
1.0% |
91,743
|
95,924
|
-4.4% |
|
Volvo |
9,208
|
10,144
|
-9.2% |
44,300
|
48,344
|
-8.4% |
|
Total |
753,081 |
702,364 |
7.2% |
3,241,882 |
3,117,310 |
4.0% |
6/5/2007 7:47:46 AM
