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Automobile industry

US Auto Sales Post First Growth in Three Months as Toyota, Nissan Set Records

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Despite soaring gasoline prices, US auto sales rose 4.6 percent in March to 1,576,828 units, marking the first growth in three months. Toyota and Nissan posted record high sales, driven by increased demand for hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles. Toyota's sales surged 16.7 percent to 203,223 units, while Nissan's sales climbed 16.9 percent to 105,804 units, with both companies marking new record highs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Toyota posted a 16.7 percent increase in sales to 203,223 units in March, with its hybrid Prius passenger car more than doubling its sales to a record 10,236 units.
  • Nissan saw its sales climb 16.9 percent to 105,804 units, with its yearly sales in the United States topping 1 million units for the first time in fiscal 2004.
  • Honda's total sales increased 11.0 percent to 128,548 units, with hybrid vehicle sales reaching a new record for a single month due to the popularity of its new models.
  • General Motors Corp. saw its sales rise 2.5 percent to 417,281 units mainly due to strong sales of pickup trucks.
  • DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler division recorded a 7.6 percent increase in sales to 212,978 units.
  • Ford Motor Co. reported a decline of 1.4 percent in sales to 285,659 units.

Statistics:

  • US auto sales rose 4.6 percent in March to 1,576,828 units, marking the first growth in three months.
  • Toyota's hybrid Prius passenger car more than doubled its sales to a record 10,236 units.
  • Nissan's yearly sales in the United States topped 1 million units for the first time in fiscal 2004.
  • Honda's hybrid vehicle sales reached a new record for a single month.
  • General Motors Corp. saw its sales rise 2.5 percent to 417,281 units in March.
  • DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler division recorded a 7.6 percent increase in sales to 212,978 units.

Sources:

  • Autodata Corp.
  • "US Auto Sales Rise 4.6 Percent in March"
  • Kyodo News International, April 2
  • Copyright (c) 2005, Kyodo News International, Tokyo Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

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