http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4483737&EDATE=

". . .
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded best-ever November sales of 92,970, up 14.3 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales were led by Camry, which posted November sales of 34,189, up 15.1 percent from the year-ago month. Camry Hybrid, which went on sale in late April, reported sales of 3,100 units in November. Corolla reported best-ever November sales of 27,015, up 13.9 percent over the same period last year. The all-new Yaris subcompact, which went on sale in March, posted sales totaling 5,936 units for the month. The Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size sedan posted best-ever November sales of 8,008, an increase of 1.5 percent.
. . ."

This is the first month of 'soft' gasoline prices and it looks like Toyota is selling pretty much everything they make.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm not sure 'selling pretty much everything they make' is an appropriate description here. If it wasn't for the Camry (which wasn't being sold back then), overall toyota hybrid sales would have dropped significantly from last year. The highlander hybrid, in particular, had sales drop by 29%. It seems like the change in tax credits is having quite an impact on Toyota.

 

I suspect the Camry cannibalized both highlander and prius sales.

Bob Wilson

 

The peak sales month about total Toyota/Lexus hybrid was August and November sales was down 30% from August.
The most down vehicle was Camry Hybrid. Maybe, the reason was they have to slow down the production moving the main factory from Tsutsumi to Kentucky.

Ken@Japan

 

That's possible, but my first thought is people don't tend to shop for make, but type then make. So, I might suspect Camry to steal Prius sales, but not Highlander.

I was thinking of how the switch in production freed up the Prius. So, chances are they aren't selling out on every Prius they make, unlike a few months ago when every Camry produced took away one Prius.

As for August to November comparisons, it just isn't fair to compare that way. Seasonal differences in sales explain the difference which is why car companies compare to last year same month.

 

I don't think so.
Camry did not steal Prius sales.
I can't see any "Seasonal differences".

Ken@Japan

 

I'm not sure why you can't see the seasonal differences between August and November? For instance, using the numbers you've presented: Highlander sales went from 2,925 to 2,353 from November to August in '05. They also went 2,581 to 1,667 units sold from November to August in '06. That's a fairly typical drop from late summer to early winter in car sales. You can see the same thing in each of the cars you have listed. So, I'm confused as to why you can't see it?

Also, I'm not following your argument on why the Camry didn't 'steal' sales from the Prius? Could you walk me through your thought process?

 

BTW...

Nov05vsNov06 ratio was up 19.3%.

Ken@Japan

 

The Camry fills the gap between the Prius and the SUVs. As such, it should take sales from the Prius buyers who needed a bit more room (aka, familes with kids) and the larger, higher SUV buyers who didn't need the 'high step' and implied 'utility' function. In our case, the hybrid Camry is probably going to be our next 'new car' to replace my wife's Echo.

Canibalizing some sales pretty much happens to any company when they offer something in-between two other lines. But the losses or reduced growth on the other lines are usually less than the greater increase in sales in the new model.

Bob Wilson

 

Bob, that makes sense to me.

Ken:
If you take out the Camry hybrid sales, you go from 14278 (-3100) to 11178, a loss of sales from November to November. About 6.5% (if I'm doing my math right).