Ford sales slide 10% in November

Automaker hurt by weaker truck sales; Daimler reports uptick in sales.
December 1 2006: 12:17 PM EST


DETROIT (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co. said Friday its U.S. November vehicle sales fell 10 percent from a year earlier, driven by a decline in truck sales as consumers moved to more fuel-efficient options.

The second-largest U.S. automaker said it sold 182,259 vehicles in the United States last month, compared with 201,711 vehicles a year earlier.

Results for Ford include its import brands and some medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

DaimlerChrysler AG reported Friday its U.S. vehicle sales rose 5 percent in November from a year earlier, when the automaker scaled back big discounts.

Chrysler Group's sales rose 3 percent, while Mercedes sales rose 21 percent, the company said

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS),
U.S.A., Inc., today reported best-ever November sales of 196,695 vehicles,
an increase of 15.9 percent over November 2005. Calendar-year-to-date
(CYTD) sales total 2,314,202 units, up 12.5 percent over the same period
last year.
The Toyota Division posted best-ever November sales of 169,976, up 18
percent. The Lexus Division reported best-ever November sales with 26,719
units sold, an increase of 4.2 percent.
Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded best-ever November sales of
92,970, up 14.3 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales
were led by Camry, which posted November sales of 34,189, up 15.1 percent
from the year-ago month. Camry Hybrid, which went on sale in late April,
reported sales of 3,100 units in November. Corolla reported best-ever
November sales of 27,015, up 13.9 percent over the same period last year.
The all-new Yaris subcompact, which went on sale in March, posted sales
totaling 5,936 units for the month. The Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size
sedan posted best-ever November sales of 8,008, an increase of 1.5 percent.
Toyota Division light truck sales were up 22.8 percent, with a
best-ever November total of 77,006 units. Light truck sales were led by
Sienna with monthly sales of 13,535, up 15 percent over the same period
last year. The RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) reported best-ever
November sales of 11,425, up 156.9 percent over the same period last year.
The all-new FJ Cruiser, which went on sale in March, reported sales of
5,459 units. The Tundra full-size pickup truck reported November sales of
10,469. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of
1,667 units for the month. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined
November sales of 11,100, up 14.7 percent over the same period last year.
Scion reported November sales of 10,769 units. The tC sports coupe led
the way with November sales of 5,084 units. Scion xA sales were up 11.5
percent, posting best-ever November sales of 2,204 units.
Lexus Division
Lexus passenger cars posted best-ever November sales of 16,156 units,
an increase of 15.4 percent over November 2005. Passenger car sales were
led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with best-ever November sales of 6,678
units, up 44 percent. The IS 250 and IS 350 luxury sport sedans recorded
combined November sales of 3,599 units. The LS 430 and the all-new LS 460
reported combined sales of 3,613, an increase of 116.3 percent.
Lexus Division light trucks reported November sales totaling 10,563
units. The 2006 RX 400h luxury hybrid SUV reported sales of 1,327 units for
the month. The RX 350 and RX 400h enjoyed combined November sales of 8,052
units.
TMS calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 173,859 units. In
November, hybrid sales posted 14,278 units.
There were 25 selling days this sales month and last November.

* Chrysler Group Reports Sales of 164,556 Vehicles, a 3 Percent Increase
for November 2006
* Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Sales of 22,079 Vehicles a 21 Percent Increase
for November 2006

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE:
DCX), the third largest U.S. auto maker, today reported total group sales
of 186,635 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for November 2006, a 5 percent
increase compared to November 2005. All sales figures in this release are
on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020212/DCXLOGO )
Chrysler Group, which consists of the Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge
brands, posted sales of 164,556 vehicles in the U.S., an increase of 3
percent. Following global sales growth of 4.7 percent to 2.83 million units
in 2005, Chrysler Group launches 10 all-new vehicles in 2006, the most
aggressive product launch in company history, while introducing some of the
most fuel- efficient vehicles to date. Reinforcing its position as
America's favorite convertible company, the Chrysler Group is raising the
roof on the convertible segment by introducing the all-new 2008 Chrysler
Sebring Convertible. The vehicle offers what no other convertible has
offered before -- three automatically latching convertible top options in
vinyl, cloth or a body-color painted steel retractable hard top, all of
which can be retracted with a push of a button on the key fob. The Chrysler
Sebring Convertible achieves excellent fuel efficiency of 31 mpg and has
Flexible-fuel Vehicle (FFV) engine availability, making the 2008 Chrysler
Sebring Convertible a solid contender.
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported its third highest sales month ever
with 22,079 vehicles sold in November, an increase of 21 percent over last
November. As a group, the Mercedes-Benz portfolio of luxury light trucks --
the M-, R-, G- and GL-Classes -- continued to demonstrate impressive gains
with a combined 57 percent increase over last November.
Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA and Chrysler Group will be
announced later today in separate press releases issued by the groups.
November 2006 and November 2006 both had 25 selling days.