Top 10 Best-Selling Cars: January 2010

Well, we didn’t expect sales numbers in 2010 to be anything that interesting, but throw in a recall or two of the country’s most popular cars and interesting sales numbers are what you get. As a brand, Toyota sales were down 14%. Since Lexus actually saw sales rise 12% for the same time period, we can say with near absolute certainty that the recalls and sales stoppage at the end of the month were the reasons for the drop.
 
Toyota’s problems also shake up the top 10 list with the Toyota Camry and Corolla dropping a bit, but still earning spots on the list. Not on the list is the Chevy Equinox, which had its best sales month since being redesigned, at 9,513. It’s nipping at the heels of the Honda CR-V (9,672) and segment leader Ford Escape (10,743).

Comments

I love how the escapes 10 yrs old and still sells very well

Malibu outsold Camry? Are they tap dancing at the Ren Cen?

How did Altima get where it is?

What is your rationale (besides Lexus sales increase) that Toyota sales decrease is a result of the recall and sales stoppage?

H,
Besides the Lexus sales the industry as a whole was flat or up, and Toyota was down significantly including its most popular models. I don't think you'll find an analyst on the plant who would suggest otherwise.

Any ideas on why the Corolla survived as the best-selling car in its class and the Camry

Any ideas on why the Corolla survived as the best-selling car in its class and the Camry didn't?

Brady,
I think because other compacts don't sell as well in general so its sales were stolen among the Focus, Elantra, Sentra, Cobalt and Civic to some degree but the Altima and Accord were already top ten material.

You can say that the recall/sales stoppage issue contributed to the sales decline but to "say with near absolute certainty that the recalls and sales stoppage at the end of the month were the reasons for the drop" is speculative at best.

Corolla down 3.6
Camry down 17.7
Highlander down 15.7
RAV4 up 6.4

All plausible numbers that could have been impacted by the recall/sales stoppage. But tell me how you can explain these numbers being solely a result of the recall/sales stoppage? And then how do you explain these huge decreases which are clearly not consistent with the decreases in the above group?

Avalon down 51.7
Sienna down 57.1
FJ Cruiser down 47.3
Sequoia down 56.2
Tundra down 40.2

Furthermore, the Lexus sales increase is really not an organic increase but mainly due to the introduction of a new model, the HS.

OK H, you got me. Clearly stopping sales of 55% of your lineup during the busiest sales week of the month didn't impact sales despite those recalled vehicles all being down. While Honda remained relatively flat and Nissan/Hyundai way up?

Seriously.

There's not much to argue with here.
Sienna was down because they had no inventory. The 2011 is just hitting dealers now. 300 or so in cars.com inventory.

FJ Cruiser numbers have been dropping like that pretty much every month and the Avalon, Tundra and Sequoia are included in one or both of the recalls.

Seriously, let me repeat your quote again:

[W]e can say with near absolute certainty that the recalls and sales stoppage at the end of the month were the reasons for the drop.

Then you explain to me that Sienna decrease is a result of low inventory and FJ Cruiser drops because, well, it just does?

Apparently there are more reasons than just the recall/sales stoppage for Toyota's sales decline.

I'm not going to go any further with this because as it is I feel too much like OS right now and need to go wash my hands.

Have anyone thought that may be some people are sitting there and waiting when Toyota will fix the issue and then they will go for one?

The shut down contributed but its not the entire reason for this. If Toyota sales were up before the shutdown they would have been close to flat for the month. Down 16% is the worst performance of the major player and they were going to lose marketshare either way- the recall just made things worse. As H said, Lexus sales were mainly up due to the HS and Lexus models weren't included in the recall.

DT:

What you should have said was the recalls contributed to Toyota's poor showing. Its presumptuous to say the entire drop was due to the recall- especially when Honda also had a sales decline in spite of not recalling anything for sale currently. With Ford doing well and the new Sonata on the way I don't think Toyota is going to be able to maintain marketshare this year- especially after starting out this way. Chevy outsold Toyota by 20k vehicles in January and I would expect a similar lead next month while Toyota is fixing all its dealer stock. Ford as a brand outsold Toyota as well.

Glad that Honda is listing the numbers for the Crosstour instead of the Corolla/Matrix deal.

Fusion numbers are a disappointment, considering all the hype it's getting.

David, I can't believe you even justified two responses to H. This person only remembers the first letter of his name before he goes stupid.

Yes, maybe I should have quantified it by "severity" of the drop? but even then no other automaker in good standing had a down month.

Honda's sales were NOT down on a daily selling rate which is compared against Toyota which also uses the DSR. And remember GM and Ford sales surged on fleet sales. Guess which cars were pulled from fleets nationwide? So Toyota also lost out on its fleet sales. Honda does not take part in fleet sales.

Honda doesn't take part in fleet sales?? Don't tell my local Hertz & Budget...they have several Accords & Civics sitting in their lots!

d,
where are you located? I think Honda's fleet sales are 0.8% or something like that in terms of total. Very minimal.

Actually, Honda is recalling Fits.

FWB, FL...very small airport but i "cruise" it 2 see what's 4 rent...LOL...have yet 2 c a 2010 Taurus..but the Budget just added ALOT of VW Jettas & Chevy Malibus!..r those sales for Crosstour good? Kinda seems higher than I would expect...

I'm surprised the Cobalt is still selling that well, I rarely see them anymore. Even more shocking considering its a bit of an old model.

Fits being recalled are the previous generation, not what's on sale today new.

Dave, how about you just appease "them" and ask "what is the reason?"

GM just all of sudden improved quality and everyone is believing it? GM has been recall free for two weeks? The latest ad campaign is finally paying dividends? - But no, don't mention those dreaded fleet sales...

Really, I love how Toyota's market share can be predicted for the rest of year - in January. There is no doubt the recall puts them in a compromised position. But is there some certainty out there that no other automakers will have substantial recalls...GM's track record speaks otherwise.

Oldsmoboi, apparently you're new to this. The Altima has been on the top 10 car sales list for years, longer than the time Oldsmobile was being led out to the "great" beyond for automobiles. What's significant is the way Toyota sales have been upset, Corolla outselling Camry, when last has that happened? BTW, another fact, Malibu doesn't outsell Altima (period).

Zach that's up 50% year over year.

Actually, the 5 Ford cars are up 33, 49, 121, 61 and 91% - absolutely insane numbers.

Where on earth did the Cobalt come from? That's up what, 200%? Has it been trending this way all year?

Toyota is not quality cars, in Viet Nam everybody calls Toyota is Death cars.

I have to remind "d" for future posts that he isn't text messaging when he is posting here.

I was at the Houston Auto Show and heard two teenage boys (pretty sure too young to drive) call the CrossTour "Beautiful". I turned around in my tracks to see who would say that, lol. Anyway, I disagree with them, but I guess it bodes well for Honda if the upcoming crop of drivers think so highly of their designs.

Broq

Broq,

Maybe they were looking in the direction of the Crosstour but actually ogling the booth professional standing next to it!

Here is a list of the top 20 cars for the same month which shows more toyota models and an increase in sales. i'm sure the -11% dip in not an anomaly for the corolla.

http://www.cardealerreviews.org/?p=247212

Jordan,
Not sure how that list has any relevance since the Prius was up just barely. It's not like it offsets the brand's overall losses clearly. So no more links that aren't relevant to competing sites. thanks.

Thank you for this post, I so absolutely have the same opinion! And it's very stimulating for me. I'm just functioning on my opinion with this issue.

Dang,Nissan Altima #4!record...lol wow toyota sales are going down cause of recalls....

OMG CHEVY OUTSOLD CAMRY UNBELIEVEABLE.

have you checked a rental car lots lately "Nissan Altima"

Have you checked out a rental car lot lately they look like a "Nissan Altima" lot

it's a nice car but they didn't sell 18,636 retail

Now we all know that if GM has 4 weeks to sell cars and Toyota only 2 then GM can sell more cars - barely. This is yet another indicator of how unpopular the Chevy Malibu is. GM needs to totally redo the car as it's been a colossal sales failure.

how that list has any relevance since the Prius was up just barely.
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Digital Photo Frame

i don't why don't buy american vehicle to american..
i think most good vehicle have gm, ford,chesler,,,,