Top 10 Best-Selling Cars: May 2012
Toyota dominated the sales landscape last month, with May sales up nearly 90%. That's versus a weak May 2011, when Japan's earthquake and tsunami had shoppers thinking Toyota, Lexus and Scion showrooms would have few cars in stock. It actually wasn't the case, noted Toyota spokeswoman Carly Shaffner; Automotive News data show Toyota maintained higher inventory in May 2011 then it did this past May, but the perception dried up demand and the automaker lost a third of its sales. Last month, it more than made them back: Camry and RAV4 sales more than doubled, Corolla/Matrix sales jumped 87.5% and Prius sales tripled. Even sales for the Lexus RX, which topped last month's Buzz Index, gained 82.1%.
Toyota wasn't the only mover.
At least shoppers had an easier time financing their purchases. Average interest rates and loan terms have improved from year-ago levels, according to Experian Automotive, leading the firm to note recently that automotive lending is as healthy as it was before the recession.
The rising tide lifted all of May's top 10 sellers, but it did little change their order. The Prius may have tripled sales, but that was versus a dismal May 2011 — when sales collapsed 51.4% — and it wasn't enough to retain a top 10 spot for Toyota's popular hybrid. Chrysler's Ram pickup truck, which hasn't been a top 10 player since February, returned to the list, fueled by increasing demand on both the light- and heavy-duty side. Chrysler said the regular cab had the largest percentage sales gains, though the quad cab remains the Ram's most popular configuration.
Higher sales for the Ram were emblematic of all pickups, as gas prices fell nearly 20 cents per gallon in May: Combined sales for the Ram, Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra increased 26.5% in May and 14.1% for the year.
The battle of family cars in their final year, meanwhile, played out through May. Honda and Ford are gaining steam. The Nissan Altima, which beat the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion for the first three months of 2012, remains off the top 10 for the second month in a row despite an uptick in incentives. The Accord and Fusion, meanwhile, have gained in popularity despite having redesigns in the wings. Honda has done particularly well in the last two months, and time will tell if the automaker's strategy — to keep the new Accord under wraps until just before it launches this fall — has kept interest high in the outgoing car.
Here are May's top 10 best-selling cars:
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How is the Corolla and the Civic still attractive. Their WAY better options in the segment. This proves that most people don't look at other vehicles in each segment and most people don't care how their vehicles look.
So much for all the tsunami inventory sales depression theory that has been used on this site. Many of us have questioned the legitimacy of this claim and now Toyota officially announces that it was the perception of inventory shortages that caused the sales depression. Thanks media.
I'm always amazed how Honda can not only compete with the big boys (GM, Ford, Toyota) but take it to them. To have three of their cars in the Top 10 is quite an accomplishment. I personally can't think of any Honda I'd want to own.
So Much for the BIG three dominating in any category.
I used to love the Civic but now I'm leaning towards the Chevy Cruze.
nice lol..
bryan:
I dont understand why people don't get this but sales of the top 10 don't explain overall sales rankings. Honda is well behind Chrysler in sales for the #4 slot in the US. The fact that Chrysler only has 1 top 10 seller doesn't mean its smaller than Honda. Honda is WELL behind GM, Ford and Toyota in US sales. BTW, Chrysler had the biggest increase in sales if you exclude the inflated tsunami related numbers from Honda and Toyota. They even outperformed Nissan in terms of sales gain. Also of note, Honda's incentives are up big time vs last year when they had inventory problems. VW and Toyota hiked incentives as well.
What is amazing to me is that Toyota seems to be recalling more vehicles then any other manufacturer, yet people keep buying them. Either people are just that dumb, or millions of recalls in the past decade simply doesn't bother them. Idk, I like Nissan and Honda personally. Also, yes, Chrysler is getting there.
It's amazing the Fusion is still selling so well, considering so many buyers are holding off for the coming new model that stole the Detroit Auto Show.
It's a shame that the Japanese market took a dive based on peoples perceptions that the tsunami would have depleted stock. In actuality I'm sure the industry, and country as a whole, could really have used an influx of funds from sales in order to help rebuild.
Good list.
How is Toyota still #1?