March 2015 Truck Sales – Toyota Tundra, Tacoma Help Set Record
Tim Esterdahl | Apr 02, 2015 | Comments 8
The March, 2015 sales numbers are in and one thing is certain – Toyota is hot right now. This is in contrast to both GM and Ford posting losses and FCA eking out a meager gain. In fact, the light-duty truck side of Toyota posted its best sales in March ever.
While other trucks have a lot of fancy new features, the stalwart Toyota Tundra continues to sell well and prove critics wrong.
Before we dive into the month, here are the numbers:
| Rank | Model YTD Sales | YTD vs. 2014 | Year-Over-Year | Monthly Sales | Monthly Change vs. 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Ford F-Series | 177,312 | +2.3% | March 2015 March 2014 | 67,706 70,940 | -4.6% |
| 2 - Chevy Silverado | 126,694 | +17.6% | March 2015 March 2014 | 45,193 42,247 | +7.0% |
| 3 - Ram Truck | 101,511 | +4.8% | March 2015 March 2014 | 41,595 42,532 | -2.2% |
| 4 - GMC Sierra | 45,173 | +7.0% | March 2015 March 2014 | 17,395 16,863 | +3.2% |
| 5 - Toyota Tacoma | 39,666 | +12.6% | March 2015 March 2014 | 15,885 14,445 | +10.0% |
| 6 - Toyota Tundra | 28,757 | +4.9% | March 2015 March 2014 | 11,508 11,589 | -.7% |
| 7 - Chevy Colorado | 19,126 | NA | March 2015 March 2014 | 6,621 2 | NA |
| 8 - Nissan Frontier | 19,102 | +6.9% | March 2015 March 2014 | 7,128 7,140 | -.2% |
| 9 - GMC Canyon | 7,152 | NA | March 2015 March 2014 | 2,434 1 | NA |
| 10 - Nissan Titan | 2,638 | -20.5% | March 2015 March 2014 | 1,048 1,314 | -20.2% |
| 11 - Honda Ridgeline | 427 | -88.9% | March 2015 March 2014 | 77 1,538 | -95% |
Toyota
Officially, they say their light-duty truck products had their best March sales ever. Looking behind the numbers, their classification of light-duty trucks includes trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.
For just the Tacoma and Tundra, they were up a combined 5.2 percent over last year. For the year, they are up 9.2 percent which is about keeping pace with the industry. We still can’t figure out how Toyota says they are at capacity and yet they keep selling more trucks. Doesn’t add up to us.
Ford
Late last month, Ford announced their other F-150 plant came online. This means, both plants should be producing the new 2015 F-150 as fast as they can. We have no doubts Ford’s truck sales will climb with increased supply, we will just have to wait and see how much. The big question is if it is anything less than double-digit sales increases, will it be considered a failure? That remains to be seen.
GM Trucks
For the year, GM trucks have certainly been a bit of an anomaly. Why? On the half-ton side, you could argue that the Sierra and Silverado got the least amount of improvements when they were redone (depending on how you view the Toyota Tundra). Yet, looking at sales numbers, they continue to post nice sales gains. For the second month in a row, the Chevy Silverado posted a larger sales gain than either Ford or Ram.
Also interesting are the mid-size twins. Both the Colorado and Canyon have been on the market for a while and we have to believe the dealer supply has been built up. Yet, the sales numbers are still pretty insignificant. In fact, the Tacoma hasn’t seemingly been fazed at all by the GM truck’s introduction. What’s hurting the Tacoma is the production mix at the San Antonio, Texas plant more than the new competition.
By the way, we recently had a chance to test both of the GM mid-size offerings in the Canyon and Colorado. Give us a shot if you want to hear our thoughts on them.
Ram
Are we ready to say that Ram trucks hot streak has cooled? Last month, they posted a meager increase up just about 2k units and this month they were down. What’s going on? Has the EcoDiesel cooled off? Was Toyota’s Sweers correct in saying that once pent up demand passed, we would have a better picture of the market? It seems so for now. Going to be interesting to see what else Ram has up their sleeves as the year progresses.
Nissan/Honda
These companies sales results should come with an asterisk that says “new products coming soon.” It is clear their products have run their course and a new model is desperately needed.
You heard what we think. What are your thoughts?
Filed Under: Auto News
I’m as big a Toyota fanboy as anybody, but do these numbers surprise you? I mean yes the Tundra and Tacoma are the most reliable in their class, but both have dated drivetrains and interiors, and lack a lot of high tech advancements other auto makers have put into their trucks. So their popularity for lines that have no had re-investment and re-designs for a long time surprise me.
DJ,
Took me a minute to figure out if you were upset or surprised. LOL! I think it really says something about the truck customer base when the least updated trucks – Silverado, Sierra, Tundra – are leading or maintaining their sales the best.
-Tim
Why do people think that the drivetrains in the Tundra and Tacoma are outdated? Sure they don’t have turbochargers or direct injections or cylinder deactivation or a gazillion speed transmission, but those aren’t new technology. Only RAM has 8 speeds across the board. Besides, Toyota have a better way of doing direct injection that don’t foul up the valves (VW is using the same concept now after many years of carbon buildup) and the ability to switch to Atkinson cycle is likely less problematic that than the cylinder deactivation that GM and Honda are currently using. Plus, I rather have an Aisin 8 speed auto than a ZF, just ask Porsche and Audi.
Even with an “outdated” drivetrain, the current
Tacoma posted pretty impressive fuel economy on TFLTruck highway test: 24.5 mpg vs EPA estimate of 21 mpg highway.
http://www.tfltruck.com/2015/0.....est-video/
The “high tech” 2.7L Ecoboost Ford F150 barely matched its EPA estimate of 23 mpg highway tested under very similar conditions. They got 22.8 mpg out of the Ford F150.
http://www.tfltruck.com/2015/0.....est-video/
I have no idea what the current production schedules are for Baja or San Antonio. I think SA is two shifts 6 days a week?
Those that want a real mid-size truck buy Tacoma. If they want a SUV conversion pseudo truck then Colorado/Canyon is their choice. But again it too will fade away like the S-10 before it.
Ford continues their downward spiral. There are a dozen reasons, well discussed before. So far the 2015 model is not well received in the DFW area even with much bigger discounts than offered on the Toyota’s. It appears QC has hit a new low even for Ford. The fanboys are buying all the 2014 F-150 models with the $14,000 discounts while they can.
On the QC front it appears to be a horse race between Ram and GM with GM taking a slight lead. Ram is still having difficulty curing some QC problems. FCA could take Ram in “any” direction, up or down; I have no idea?
Truck buyers know that the Toyota’s are still the QDR leader.
“If they want a SUV conversion pseudo truck then Colorado/Canyon is their choice. But again it too will fade away like the S-10 before it.”
Explain to me how a 305 HP, 270 TRQ fully boxed frame Colorado/Canyon is a psuedo truck.
Also, it was good enough to win TFL Truck’s Gold Hitch Award.
If the chevy colorado was offered in a crew cab with 6’3″ or 6’6″ bed (anything over 6′), I’d be jumping ships now, even though they are pretty pricey, still a tad cheaper than the tundra SR5 double cab.
All mfgs. are not rolling with a full deck, especially Toyota. Only 1/2 ton truck now without an over 6′ bed in a crewmax configuration.
Main reason I bought my Tundra is best bang for my buck for purchasing price and fits my needs the cheapest out now for any 1/2 ton truck. I do NOT want to see more gizmos and gadgets like Ford/Dodge/GM has done to their 1/2 ton trucks thus increasing msrp above my comfort zone. 2nd reason is reliablity and resale/trade in value is best with tundra.
Increase mpg by 2-3 more both city/hwy., more interior storage, and give me my crewmax 6 1/2′ bed and I’m happy with the way it sits now. Has plenty of enough hp/torque for any 1/2 ton needs for sure even though stats on the new 5.7L hemi RAM and 6.2L GM and 3.5L ecoboost V6 twin turbo make the 5.7L Tundra engine now the slowest of the bunch by just a tad. I really could care less I am 1/2 second slower 0-60 time or when pulling a heavy load not quite as fast as the Big 3.
I was fine with the old chevy 5.7L 350 V8 back in the 90’s before they went to the 5.3L engine had enough spunk for me don’t need anymore than that.
The Crew Cab Colorado/Canyon can be had with a 6 ft 2 inch bed.
Toyota are the most reliable in their class, but both have dated drivetrains and interiors, and lack a lot of high tech advancements other auto makers have put into their trucks.