October Auto Sales: Toyota Motor Sales Fall

the Associated Press

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said Tuesday its October sales declined 3.5 percent from the year-earlier level as stronger luxury and hybrid volumes offset weaker light truck sales.

BY THE NUMBERS: Sales overall rose to 152,165 from 152,101 a year earlier. But because last month had one more selling day than October 2008, the comparable volume — on a daily selling rate basis — fell 3.5 percent. Year-to-date sales declined 25.5 percent to nearly 1.45 million vehicles.

THE DIVISIONS: Sales of Toyota division cars and light trucks slipped to 132,663 units, a decrease of 5.8 percent from the same period last year. The Lexus division, which includes light trucks and cars, reported October sales of 19,502 units, an increase of 15.5 percent over the year-ago month.

TOP SELLER: Camry remained the carmaker's most popular model, selling 30,136 last month, a 4.9 percent decrease from the year-earlier figure. The RX sports utility vehicle posted a 55 percent sales gain to 8,316.

HOT MODELS: Customers bought 10.3 percent more high-mileage Prius vehicles last month.

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