Toyota Motor Corp.'s (TM, 7203.TO) U.S. auto sales edged up 0.4%
in December as car sales improved, offsetting lower light truck
sales.
Two weeks ago, Toyota said it expects auto sales to surge by a
fifth to a record level in 2012 as production returns to normal,
with new models and emerging markets helping drive growth after a
year scarred by disasters in Japan and Thailand.
Supply shortages after an earthquake struck Japan in March hit
Toyota and Honda Motor Co. (HMC, 7267.TO) the hardest, and both
companies reported steep profit declines in the first three
quarters of the year.
Just as Toyota's production was recovering from shortages due to
the earthquake, its global output was crimped by component
shortages from massive flooding in Thailand, where it builds parts
and some autos for export.
Toyota reported it sold 178,131 vehicles in the U.S. last month,
up from 177,488 a year ago and 29% above November's total. The
company said December marked its best volume month of the year.
Total car sales rose 4.4% from a year earlier, while light truck
sales decreased 2.2%. Sport-utility vehicle sales were down 11% and
pickup sales edged up 0.9%.
Toyota posted double-digit sales gains for the Sienna, Avalon,
Highlander and Tacoma, while the Venza saw a double-digit sales
decline.
December had 27 selling days, the same as a year ago.
Broadly, U.S. new-auto sales are expected to rise 7.5% from a
year earlier and rise 24% from November, according to car-shopping
website Edmunds.com. For Toyota, Edmunds projected a 3.4%
year-over-year sales decline.
Earlier Wednesday, General Motors Co. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F),
Chrysler Group LLC and Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY, 7201.TO) reported
year-over-year sales increases for December.
Toyota's American depositary shares rose by 65 cents to $68.43
in recent trading. The stock is down 14% in the past 12 months.
-By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287; nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com;