Toyota Tops Second Quarter Sales in California

Washington DC August 16, 2006: The AIADA newslettrer reported that the California Motor Car Dealers Association found that Toyota brand cars and trucks accounted for 23.4 percent of all sales in the Golden State during the April-June quarter, reports The Los Angeles Times.

Including Toyota's Lexus brand, the Japanese auto giant registered 27 percent of total auto sales in California during the quarter. Honda followed Toyota with 12.4 percent of sales; Ford ranked third with 9.6 percent Cali market share; and GM's Chevrolet brand came in fourth with 8.2 percent of the market for autos in California.

Analysts say the numbers indicate Toyota and Honda are surging on the strength of their reputations for reliability and fuel economy. "Toyota's been pounding away on fuel economy in its ads, and both Toyota and Honda are brands that nobody criticizes you for buying, which is important to many buyers," said George Peterson, president of market-research firm AutoPacific Inc.

Six international nameplate brands— Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus — accounted for 53.8 percent of the new passenger vehicles sold in California in the second quarter.