Proof People Aren't Dumb: Prius Sales Up 27%

Just when we thought the media controlled the minds and thoughts of the auto-buying public, the American public has fought back by embracing financial incentives and boosting Prius sales by 27% in March. With incentives in place like $229 lease rates and other customer loyalty bonuses, it looks like John Q. Consumer made a decision on his next car based on his wallet and not what his TV news was telling him. Overall, Toyota sales were up an astounding 40% last month compared to March 2009. Also, Prius year-to-date sales are up 17% in 2010 compared to 2009. Full press release and embedded sales chart below:

Toyota Reports March and First Quarter Sales TORRANCE, Calif. (April 1, 2010) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported March sales results of 186,863 units, an increase of 35.3 percent over the same period last year, on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw volume basis, unadjusted for 26 selling days in March 2010, compared to 25 selling days in March 2009, TMS sales were up 40.7 percent for the month, compared to the same period last year. Toyota Division recorded March sales of 166,644 vehicles, an increase of 35.1 percent over the year-ago month, on a DSR basis. On a raw volume basis, Toyota Division sales were up 40.6 percent over last March. Lexus reported sales of 20,219 units in March, up 36.5 percent over March 2009, on a DSR basis. Volume-wise, Lexus Division sales were up 42.0 percent over the year-ago month. "Toyota’s strong sales performance in March reflects our customers’ continued confidence in the safety and reliability of our vehicles and their trust in the brand,” said Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “We are standing by our cars, and we're grateful that our customers are standing by Toyota.” For the first quarter, TMS reported sales of 385,686 vehicles, an increase of 8.7 percent over the same period in 2009, on a DSR basis. With 74 selling days in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 75 selling day in the first quarter of 2009, sales were up 7.2 percent on an unadjusted raw volume basis. Toyota Division Toyota Division passenger cars recorded March sales of 94,221 units, an increase of 23.5 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales were led by Camry and Camry Hybrid which posted combined March sales of 36,251 units, up 35.2 percent over the year-ago month. Corolla posted sales of 29,623 units for the month, up 28.0 percent over last March. The Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid posted March sales of 11,786 units, up 27.0 percent over March 2009. Venza posted a best-ever March, recording sales of 5,227 units, up 36.0 percent over the same period last year. Toyota Division light trucks posted sales of 72,423 units in March, an increase of 54.1 percent over last March. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact SUV which recorded an all-time best-ever month with sales of 25,781 units, up 108.3 percent over the year-ago month. With a best-ever March, Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 11,953 units for the month, up 112.7 percent over March 2009. The all-new 4Runner reported March sales of 4,108 units, up 139.4 percent over the year-ago month. The Tundra full-size pickup posted March sales of 10,785 units, up 87 percent over the same period in 2009. The Tacoma mid-size pickup reported sales of 9,441 units for the month. Scion posted March sales of 3,511 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with sales of 1,630 units. The tC sports coupe posted March sales of 1,118 units. The xD reported sales of 763 units for the month. Lexus DivisionLexus reported passenger car sales of 10,060 units in March, up 34.1 percent over the year-ago month. Lexus passenger car sales were led by the recently revised ES 350 entry luxury sedan which posted sales of 3,860 units, up 15.1 percent over the same time last year. The IS luxury sports sedan reported combined sales of 3,137 units, up 24 percent over March 2009. The HS 250h luxury hybrid sedan recorded March sales of 1,494 units. Lexus light trucks recorded sales of 10,159 units, up 39 percent over last March. Lexus sales were led by the RX, which posted combined March sales of 8,060 units, up 25.5 percent over the year-ago month. The all-new GX mid-size luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,785 units. TMS HybridsTMS posted March sales of 16,714 hybrid vehicles. Toyota Division posted sales of 13,929 hybrids for the month. Lexus Division reported sales 2,785 hybrids in March. *Unless otherwise noted, all percent change figures are reported on a daily selling rate basis.​

March 2010 Sales Chart