Toyota March sales in US up 87%

Toyota’s sales fell 9 per cent in February and 16 per cent in January against 2009. In February, Toyota was the only major automaker to experience a sales decline. The declines were particularly striking because the US economy and the auto industry were in their worst slump in decades in early 2009. The two-month slump for Toyota came as the rest of the industry showed signs that a gradual recovery for 2010 was under way. Its March sales rose 41 per cent in March versus a year ago.

Incentive scheme
Meanwhile, Toyota said it will extend US sales incentives in April as it recovers from a two-month sales dip linked to recalls and suspended sales.  Toyota US Senior Vice-President Don Esmond, on Thursday, said incentives will be extended beyond April 5, but he declined to divulge further details. Toyota will unveil the specifics of its April sales incentives early next week. Current incentives including zero-per cent financing expire on Monday.