Toyota, Honda, and Nissan July Sales Led by Compact and Midsize Sedans

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan all came out ahead in July, with mainstream and luxury brands posting sales gains. Toyota and Scion brands experienced a 26.1-percent increase with total sales of 146,663 units, while the Lexus division was up 25.4 percent at 18,235 units sold. Honda rose 46.4 percent with 104,119 units sold, while the Acura brand sold 12,825 units, up 36.4 percent. Nissan’s gains were less dramatic, with its sales of 86,722 units representing a 12.3-percent increase over supply-constrained July 2011. The Infiniti brand, however, scored big with sales of 11,619 units – an increase of 56.8 percent.

Toyota and Scion – 146,663 units, up 26.1 percent

Toyota and Scion sales were up 26.1 in July with 146,663 units sold, an increase of 26.1 percent compared with the same month last year. The midsize Camry continues to top the sales charts with 29,913 units sold (up 10.7 percent). Corollas sales were up 34.5 percent with 23,640 units sold while Prius sales, encompassing Prius C and Prius V, were up 110.5 percent for a total of 16,643 units. Avalon sales were down 37.4 percent, but are likely to rise once the 2013 model arrives.

The RAV4 led the sales charts for Toyota’s trucks and SUVs with 15,248 units sold (up 73.0 percent) with the Tacoma pickup coming in second place with 11,350 units (up 27.1 percent). Toyota sold more than two-and-a-half times as many Land Cruisers in July compared to July 2011, selling 259 units. Scion’s July sales of 6904 units sold includes sales increases for the xB, xD, and tC, as well as help from new models like the FR-S coupe and iQ city car, which sold 1649 and 557 units, respectively.

Lexus – 18,235 units, up 25.4 percent

The Lexus RX premium SUV continues to be the brand’s volume seller with 7357 units sold (up 34.5 percent) while sales of the ES front-drive luxury sedan were up a noticeable 31.9 percent, at 3759 units sold. Sales of the IS sedan (2296 units) and CT hybrid hatchback (1499 units) were flat. Sales of the GS totaled 1662 units sold, well over last July’s 326 units.

Honda – 104,119 units, up 46.4 percent

The Honda division posted sales of 104,119 units, an increase of 46.4 percent over the 71,100 units sold July 2011. The Accord led sales volume for the brand, with 28,639 units sold for an increase of 70.2 percent. Not far behind was the Honda Civic, with sales of 25,004 units, representing a gain of 78.5 percent over the14,006 Civics sold during July 2011, but down compared to June 2012’s 27,500 units. The Ridgeline pickup surprised with its July numbers, selling 981 units compared to the 377 units sold the same month last year. The Odyssey was another big winner for Honda, with 11,953 units sold – way up compared to July 2011 and 678 units higher than in June 2012. Honda’s Insight and CR-Z hybrid hatchbacks again posted sales decreases, with the Insight down 57.5 percent at 419 units sold, and the CR-Z down 62.4 percent at 330 units sold. The subcompact Fit slid 5.1 percent in July, with sales of 4608 units compared to 4857 units a year prior.

Acura – 12,825 units, up 36.4 percent

Acura was up 36.4 percent in July, with sales of 12,825 units. The RDX was the brand’s big winner, selling 2664 units for a gain of 142.2 percent. The larger MDX was the volume leader, at 4288 units sold in July – an increase of 24.7 percent.  The TSX and TL were both down slightly for the month, with the TSX at1980 units for a decrease of 7.3 percent, and the TL at 2358 units for a decrease of 7.3 percent. The Civic-based ILX sold 1410 units in its second full month on sale.

Nissan – 86,722 units, up 12.3 percent

The Nissan brand sold 86,722 units in July,a gain of 12.3 percent over the 77,191 units sold the same month last year. The 2013 Nissan Altimasaw the nameplate’s best July ever, selling 26,602 units in its first full month on sale – an increase of 24.7 percent over last year’s 21,340 units (July was the 2013 Altima’s first full month of sales). The Nissan Rogue also set a new July record, selling 13.193 units for a 17.2-percent increase over the same period in 2011. The subcompact Versa sold 7451 units, raising its performance 39.0 percent from last July. Nissan’s halo car GT-R also saw a surprise boost in sales at 128 units sold in July, more than double the 56 models sold the same month last year. The quirky compact Cube hatch was less fortunate, managing to sell 578 units, down 48.5 percent from July 2011. The Frontier and Titan trucks saw moderate increases, with 5611 and 2028 units sold, respectively. The all-electric Leaf was also on the losing end in July, selling 395 units for a decrease of 57.6 percent.

Infiniti – 11,619 units, up 56.8 percent

Infiniti sold 11,619 units in July, increasing 56.8 percent over the 7410 units sold the same period in 2011. Contributing to the brand’s gain was the 2013 Infiniti JX. The new three-row crossover sold 1999 units in July, less than the 2428 units sold last month, but still good enough to make it Infiniti’s second-best seller. Sales boomed for the Infiniti G Sedan, with 6078 units sold – the G Coupe was flat, with 1287 units sold. Though overall sales at Infiniti are up, the brand still had a few less-than-stellar performers. The EX crossover was again slow-selling, at 215 units sold for decrease of 61.6 percent compared to July of last year. The FX also dipped in July, with 498 units sold representing a loss of 23.0 percent.