Behind the Numbers - January 2011 Asian Manufacturers

[Cory Wolfe]

Behind the numbers

Asian Manufacturers January 2011 Sales

February 3rd, 2011

Cory Wolfe - Writer/Photographer for CheersandGears.com

Toyota Motor Company reported a sales increase of 17.3% for January 2011 with 115,856 units sold. While the Toyota division saw sales rise 23.7%, Lexus division sales were down 17.1% with only the RX line posting an increase in sales (3.4%).

Other interesting points:

• Yaris sales are down an astonishing 50% with only 1,839 vehicles sold.
• You might be hard-pressed to find a Lexus LFA on the lots with a staggering total of 4 vehicles sold.
• Corolla sales topped Camry sales this month with 20,581 and 18,185 vehicles sold, both seeing increased sales. They were up 20.2% and 14.9%, respectively.
• Scion got a small sales boost thanks to increased tC sales, up 57.5%
• On the opposite end of the spectrum, Lexus HS sales are down 77.1% to 286 vehicles, proving no one really wants an even pricier Prius.
• If you're surprised to hear Tundra sales are up, you wouldn't be alone. Toyota moved 6,087 of their biggest truck, up 55.9%.
• Toyota Motor Co. managed to make 13,409 hybrid sales, the majority of which were Prii (Prius in plural form?) with 10,635 sold.
• Land Cruiser sales were exactly the same as last year, with 145 sold.

American Honda Motor Company reported a sales increase of 13% for January 2011 with 76,276 units sold. Honda and Acura divisions both posted gains this month, up 13.2% and 11.6%. Honda's CRV topped the charts with 16,339 sales (up 68.9%).

Other interesting points:

• Poorest selling Honda for the month was the Ridgeline, finding 855 homes (a 15.9% increase).
• The Acura RL posted a gain of 45.5% and is no longer American Honda's worst monthly performer. That badge of dishonor now belongs to the ZDX, with 148 sold.
• Also taking sales from the Yaris is the Fit, which posted a 60% sales increase, moving 4,314 units.
• Civic sales were essentially dead even, down 4/10th's of a percentile (14,634 versus 14,693 for last January).
• Honda's perennial best-selling Accord took a hit this month, posting a 27.7% decrease.
• Acura's best-selling vehicle for the month was the MDX, with 3,127 sold, a 32.6% increase.
• According to Honda, the Insight set a sales record in January, moving 1,554 vehicles.
• The all-new Odyssey " continued to win new customers" with sales of 7,022, up 44.4% respectively.

Nissan North America reported a sales increase of 14.8% for January 2011 with 71,847 units sold. Nissan division saw a sales increase of 15.4%. Infiniti division also posted a gain in sales, moving 7,405 units.

Other interesting points:

• Nissan's headlining electric vehicles, Leaf, managed 87 sales.
• The Rogue had a "best-ever" start to the year with a 71.9% increase to 9,423 vehicles.
• Awaiting the arrival of its newest iteration, the Quest sold a mere 62 examples, down 15.1%
• Another midsizer taking a hit this month was Nissan's Altima, dropping 11.7%.
• The Juke seems to be finding its own niche in the market, selling 3.095 of the psychedelically styled crossover.
• Infiniti's G-sedan increased sales to 3,248, up 21.2%, thanks to the recently introduced G25 variant.
• Both the Versa and Sentra saw increases, selling 8,682 and 9,538 of each.

Hyundai Motor America reported record January 2011 sales with 37,214 units sold. Compared to last January, sales were up 22%. Hyundai marked a big increase in retail sales alone, seeing a 58% jump.

Other interesting points:

• Sonata sales are up a whopping 150%, moving 13,261 examples of the highly-regarded sedan.
• Sales of the Azera continue to slide, down to 156 for the month.
• Hyundai's newly redesigned Elantra helped itself to a 26% increase (includes the outgoing model).
• Santa Fa sales dwindled to a 38% decrease, selling 4,415 vehicles.
• Hyundai sold 4,792 cars with 40-mpg or better highway ratings.

Kia Motors America reported record January 2011 sales, a rise of 25.6%. Kia managed to move 27,789 vehicles this month, thanks to the continued momentum of Sorento and Soul sales.

Other interesting points:

• With production still ramping up, Optima sales totalled 3,338.
• Sorento sales are still soaring with 8,116 examples sold.
• A single Amanti was sold, marking a 96.4% decrease.
• Soul is up 149% this month, to 5,345 sales.
• Off to a hot start is the Sportage, with 3,009 sold, up 295%.

Subaru of America, Inc. also reported record January 2011 sales after three consecutive calender years of sales growth. Sales totaled 18,858 for the month, an increase of 21% over last January.

Other interesting points:

• Marking Subaru's only decrease in sales, Tribeca sold 198 examples, down 22.7%.
• Impreza sales are up 34%, to 3,346 examples.
• The biggest seller continues to be the Outback, with 6,980 sold.
• Forester sales remained strong, up 17.5%.

Mazda North America reported a decrease in sales of 9.1% for January 2011 with 14,297 units sold. Mazda contributes its loss to a "substantial reduction" of fleet sales to increase residual values.

Other interesting points:

• Both the CX-7 and CX-9 posted record sales for January, with sales of 2,357 and 2,054, up 45.3% and 35.9%, respectively.
• Mazda's sales leader remains the Mazda3 with 5,015 sold, down 31.9%.
• It seems the Mazda2 is struggling to find buyers, moving just 479 examples.
• Mazda's sports cars managed sales of 289 for the MX-5 (down 18.8%) and 66 for the RX-8 (down 28.3%).

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported sales of 5,714 units for January 2011, representing a 37% increase in sales.

Other interesting points:

• Galant sales were 2,549, up a massive 80%.
• Lancer Evolution sales were up "more than 18%" according to Mitsubishi's PR writers.
• Outlander Sport sales totaled 1,065, an increase of 10% over December.

American Suzuki reported a sales increase of 26% for January 2011, with a total 2,562 sales. Suzuki is touting its "fourth consecutive year-over-year sales increase."

Other interesting points:

• Kizashi sales are up an absolutely astonishing 377% with a record sales month of 940 sold.
• Suzuki's Frontier-based Equator posted an amazing gain of 160%, moving 148 vehicles.
• The best-selling SX4 saw a 15% decrease in sales, down to 978 examples finding homes.

Related Behind The Numbers Content:

Domestic January 2011 Sales

European January 2011 Sales

[smk4565]

The only thing I noticed in all that was Sonata sales up 150%. One day half of all cars will be the Sonata, just like the 1915 Model T Ford.