Behind the Numbers - February 2011 Asian Manufacturers

[William Maley]

Behind the Numbers

February 2011 Asian Manufacturers

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

March 4, 2011

American Honda Motor Co reported sales of 98,059 vehicles, an increase of 21.6% from last February. Honda and Acura divisions both posted increases of 21.7% and 20.8% respectably. The Accord was the top dog for the company with 22,916 vehicles sold.

Other interesting points:

• CR-V was the big gainer in February with 61.4% increase
  
• The losers for Honda of February were the Accord Crosstour (29.7%), Insight (14.5%), and Ridgeline (7.5)
  
• Acura MDX was the big winner for Acura in February with 3,845 vehicles sold
  
• The RL was the loser for Acura this month, only selling 168 vehicles
  
• ZDX could be on the chopping block at the end of its life cycle due to poor sales, this month sales supports this.. 198 units sold for the month
  

Hyundai Motor Company posted sales for the month of February of 43,533 units, an increase of 28%. Retail sales increased to 46% for the month.

Other interesting points:

• Sonata still holds strong as the volume leader, selling 15,723 vehicles in February
  
• The losers for Hyundai this month were the Accent, Azera, and Santa Fe
  
• Hyundai's flagship, the Equus sold 233 vehicles this month
  

Kia Motors America announced a 36.4% increase in sales for the month of February. Kia sold 32,806 vehicles, making this best February since last year. The Sorento is the best seller in Kia's lineup posting sales of 8,641 vehicles.

Other interesting points:

• The Kia Rio was the only loser for the month, only selling 1,852 compared to 1,949 for February 2010
  
• Big gainer for Kia would be the Soul, selling 6,684 for the month
  

Mazda USA posted sales of 19,387 vehicles, an increase of 13.7% from last year. The big sellers for Mazda were their crossovers. The CX-9 sold 2,876 vehicles, up 42.8% and the CX-7 sold 2,357 vehicles, up 31.2%.

Other interesting points:

• RX-8 only sold 72 vehicles this month, a drop of five vehicles from last February
  
• Mazda6 sales increased 16.9% to 2,838 vehicles
  

Mitsubishi Motors North America announced February sales of 6,893 vehicles, an increase of 71% over last February.

Other interesting points:

• Best sales month since October 2008
  
• Lancer Evolution sales up 17.9% from last February
  

Nissan North America reported sales for February of 92,370 vehicles, an increase of 31.6% from last February. Nissan sales increased by 31.8% to 83,226 vehicles setting a new record for February. Infiniti sales increased by 29.9% to 9,144 vehicles.

Other interesting points:

• Nissan Sentra sales totaled 12,599, up 62.2 percent over a year ago
  
• The big gainer for Nissan is the Quest with a 1834.9% increase or 834 vehicles
  
• Infiniti M had a good month with sales totaling 1,178 vehicles
  
• EX was the loser for Infiniti with a 11.8% drop
  

Subaru of America announced a 20% increase in sales for February 2011. Subaru sold 21,683 vehicles this month.

Other interesting points:

• No Subaru vehicles posted a drop in sales this month
  
• Impreza posted sales of 3,933 vehicles, a 40.3% jump
  

American Suzuki posted sales of 1,643 vehicles, an increase of 19% from last February.

Other interesting points:

• 3 people bought an XL7 in February
  
• Kizashi sold 351 vehicles, an increase of 60%
  

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A reported sales of 141,846 vehicles for February, an increase of 41.8%. Toyota and Lexus divisions posted sales of 128,032 and 13,814 vehicles respectably.

Other interesting points:

• Yaris saw a 53% drop in sales for February, only selling 1,946 vehicles
  
• Avalon saw 176.8% increase in sales, selling 2,026 vehicles
  
• One person found a SC on a Lexus dealer's lot
  
• 183 HSs were sold this month, a drop of 74.3%
  

Related Behind The Numbers Content:

Behind the Numbers - February 2011 Domestics

Behind the Numbers - February 2011 Europeans

[Dsuupr]

I just drove through the Avis & Hertz parking lots (one of the new vehicle arrival locations for Hertz) to find a huge increase in the number of new toyotas, hyundais and nissans. I didn't even see a handful of GM vehicles on the lot. The only two GM products I did see where the Impala (two) and DTS (one). I do wonder how much toyota, hyundai & nissan have increased their fleet to help those numbers. Government and small business fleet is good and needed business especially for trucks. I wonder if GM & Ford is selling mostly to this group and much less to the value dropping rental companies.

Do keep in mind that Avis has traditionally focused on GM products, but I did not see one GM product available on their lot.

[Dsuupr]

I did get to ask someone at the Avis desk what cars they have been getting and if the GM cars had just been rented out. She stated that most of their new cars are hyundais, Fords and toyotas now days with only a few GM products sprinkled in now and then. She also mentioned that they had two fully loaded Cruzes (leather seats, etc.) that tended to rent quickly (requested product to rent). This medium sized airport location didn't even have a handful of GM products in their fleet.