TOKYO: Embattled auto giant Toyota Motor’s domestic sales rose 50 per cent in April from the same time last year, despite millions of safety recalls worldwide, an industry group said yesterday.Toyota sold 113,644 vehicles in the month, compared with 75,777 units sold a year ago as the industry battled with the effects of the global economic downturn, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.
Other Japanese makers such as Honda and Nissan also saw sales rise for the month, the association said, partly helped by a low basis of comparison with last year when the industry was hit by the financial crisis.
Toyota’s domestic sales recovery outpaced the wider Japanese auto market, which saw sales growth of 33.5 per cent from a year ago to 222,095 vehicles, the association said.
Toyota’s Japan figures do not include sales of subsidiaries Hino and Daihatsu Motors.
Its flagship Prius gas-electric hybrid vehicle continued to enjoy popularity at home, despite a mass recall crisis that has battered the carmaker’s once-stellar reputation for safety.
However, the automaker on Monday said US sales rose 24.4 per cent in April from a year earlier, despite recently recalling almost 10 million vehicles over accelerator pedal and brake problems blamed for 58 deaths in the US.
The world’s largest automaker reported year-on-year US sales increased in its Toyota and Lexus divisions, partly helped by recent sales incentives such as zero-percent financing on recalled models and low lease rates.
Japan’s auto industry has seen steady recovery from the dire straits of last year, when global auto sales plunged as consumer spending froze during the international financial crisis.
Toyota also significantly benefited from government stimulus programmes that included special tax incentives for Japanese motorists to buy new cars.
Among other major Japanese automakers, Honda Motor saw sales rise 13.3 per cent to 36,710 vehicles in the month, while Nissan Motor sold 27,728 units, up 31.0 per cent from last year. — AFP