Toyota: We're #1 In March Retail Sales
Flights are delayed, so let’s hear Toyota’s take on on March sales: “We out-retailed both Ford and GM by nearly 40,000 units,”according to Don Esmond, head of automotive operations at TMS USA. “Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. sold more vehicles to retail customers than any other automaker.”
In an article at Automotive News [sub], Toyota makes the case that the momentum is back, and that its incentive programs for March didn’t steal forward sales, but picked up those waiting on the sidelines during the recalls. And the incentives are not about to stop now. “Toyota Division boss Bob Carter said the New York auto show that the company has no plans to halt incentives. “Short-term, we gotta sell cars.'”
Exactly what form those incentives will take isn’t yet clear, but come they will:
“We will continue to take the necessary steps to keep our dealers competitive,” said Don Esmond, head of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. in a sales call today. “We won’t walk away from our customers. I’m sure they will continue to see good deals in the marketplace.”
Carter adds: “Dealers needed a shot in the arm. I have to restore sales, and I have to do it now. I’m not going cold turkey in April,” he said.
And the outlook for the year? “Esmond said he expects Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. to finish the year with a sales increase of about 10 percent – the same as he projected for the entire industry. Through March, the company’s sales were up 7 percent.”
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"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
@ psarhjinian, Sorry, sometimes my humour is too dry, too obtuse, or only funny to those as cynical as me. I was just riding the shark analogy out a bit. (Not to take away from your post, it was spot-on...)
Hiring that phony runaway Prius guy (who even remembers his name??) was a stroke of marketing genius on Toyotas part.
Toyota- "We're #1 in retail giveaway er sales."