Toyota sales jump while GM, Ford fall

The best monthly sales performance ever for Toyota and gains by fellow Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan helped the industry in March top last year's best month for U.S. sales despite declines by GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler. Toyota's U.S. sales jumped 11.7% in March compared with a year ago, boosted by record hybrid sales and strong overall car sales. The overall rise in U.S. sales came despite GM and DaimlerChrysler's sales falling about 4% each, and Ford posting a 9% drop.

The numbers come as the Detroit Three have seen Asian rivals led by Toyota capture growing shares of the U.S. market. Autodata's figures show GM, the world's largest automaker, had 22.4% of the U.S. market in March, with Ford holding 17.1% and Toyota with 15.7%. "This month marks a milestone eight years in the making," Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota's U.S. division, said in a statement. "Record U.S. sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids have now topped the half-million mark."

American Honda Motor Co., which includes Honda and Acura brands, said it's on track for another record U.S. sales year. It sold 143,392 light vehicles last month, up 11.3%. Like Toyota, it said it had gains in hybrid sales, but it credited the overall increase to public perception about fuel-efficiency across its line. Nissan North America Inc., which includes Nissan and Infiniti, sold 111,119 vehicles last month, up 7.8% from March 2006.

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