Toyota last year recorded its best-ever sales in the United States during its 45-year history in that market.
Toyota last year recorded its best-ever sales in the United States of during 45-year history of marketing vehicles there.
The total sales of 1 756 127 vehicles was 0,9 per cent up on sales in 2001 and this was the seventh consecutive year that Toyota set a new sales record. Last year marked the 13th year in which Toyota sold more than one million cars and trucks in the US, with 1 039 729 of these vehicles manufactured at Toyota plants in the United States.
Toyota’s top-selling model was the Camry (also the US industry leader in car sales), followed by Corolla, Avalon, Echo, Celica, Prius hybrid and MR2.
Toyota’s light truck sales were led by the Tacoma (two- and four-wheel drive versions of a Hilux-type pick-up) with 151 960 units sold. Next best sales came from the Highlander mid-size sport utility vehicle, with a record 113 134 units finding new owners.
Third best-seller was the Tundra full-size pick-up. Then followed RAV4, Sienna “people-carrier”, 4Runner, Sequoia SUV and Land Cruiser. (Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia are all built in the US)
“This was a year for the consumer,” said Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales’ executive vice-president and chief operating officer. “They pulled us through a year of economic and political uncertainty and provide us with cautious optimism for 2003, when we believe vehicle affordability in the United States will be at near-record levels.”