Tundra Sales Up 40% in July, 28.5% For The Year
Jason Lancaster | Aug 04, 2010 | Comments 12
Toyota’s July 2010 sales figures (released yesterday) show that the Tundra continues to sell at an above-average rate in 2010. This is a good sign – not only of the Tundra’s value, but that the pickup truck market continues to accelerate.
In fact, this might even be a sign that the economy is recovering. Some economists say that truck sales are tightly linked to construction, which is linked to investment. Who knows if this is true, but it’s a good thing to think about.
Tundra Market Share Climbing Too
PickupTrucks.com keeps a running tally of annual sales, and a quick look at their July numbers shows that the Tundra is rising while the Ram1500 is probably sliding. I say “probably” because the Ram numbers from PickupTrucks.com include both HD and LD numbers, but it’s unlikely that the new Ram HD is selling worse than the old design it replaced, so it must be the 1500 that’s down.
We’ll have to wait and see, but it seems more likely than ever that the Tundra will outsell the Ram 1500 in 2010. As we said a couple of months ago, Tundra vs. Ram sales figures are pretty meaningless by themselves. Perhaps there is some sort of symbolic benefit in out-selling the Ram, but only if it’s done without relying on heavy incentives.
As of today, a 2010 Tundra in Denver can be purchased with zero percent interest for five years. A 2010 Ram has the same incentive, PLUS an extra $1000 cash. Based on this admittedly small sample, it seems that the Tundra isn’t dramatically less expensive than the Ram. Perhaps Toyota is winning the sales battle on features and value.
Or perhaps consumers are reluctant to buy a truck from an Italian automaker!
Ford and GM Still King, Tacoma Sliding
Ford is really selling the heck out of the F-series trucks, and they’re currently leading GMC and Chevy combined for the annual sales title. It’s definitely a great year to own Ford stock.
The Tacoma’s sales are down, but this is a result of a really strong 2009 more than anything else. The Taco was one of the only trucks with increasing sales during last year’s terrible market. It isn’t so much that the Tacoma is slow – more that last year’s numbers were exceedingly strong.
What do you think – Will consumers grant Toyota any additional credibility if the Tundra outsells the Ram 1500 this year?
Filed Under: Auto News
tundra vs. ram, no question anyone in their right mind would pikd the tundra even if no 1K rebate plus financing. Just think what tundra would sell if they offererd 0% financing and 2.5K rebate or just 2.5K rebate would be fine for me. I agree it is very hard to get loyal ford and gm owners to switch to tundra, but I did in 2007 from a longtime since 1990 GM silverado owner based on the fact that the tundra double cab has more rear leg room than an ext. cab chevy and almost as good as a crew cab chevy silverado in rear seat legroom and you still get a 6 1/2′ bed length. For me it was a no brainer based on rear seat legroom and more so on engine and tranny still getting darn near the same mpg as the wimpy little 5.3L engine. Besides, the tundra looks tougher and bigger than the more classy looking/boring silverado. Ford trucks are too boxy looking for me while Dodge Ram’s have quality issues and lack resale value.
mk – I think Dodge has done a lot to address quality, and their resale has been steadily increasing. Still, I’m with you – Toyota is simply better in both of those areas. Add in the lower price of a Toyota, similar incentives, and a good set of features and the Tundra is a very logical choice.
Let’s hope that other people are seeing the same value! 🙂
I think these sales figues show that the masses haven’t necessarily fell for the media bashing and government BS. Toyota also posted a 2.2billion profit for the quarter and expects to sell 100k more cars than projected worldwide.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....70045.html
Tundra outsells the Ram? So what, it’s just a Ram.
Tundra versus the Silverado/Sierra? Well, me being a former GM faithful, this is hard to say, but…..
I think the 2010 Silverado/Sierra is ugly. I hate those funky looking wheel well skirts. It’s an optical issusion to make it look bigger. It looks like a fat chick with fatter hips. Sorry, i know i’m gonna get a few rebuttals for that statement, but thats my honest opinion. i also think that the GM is boring and under performs.
Tundra versus the F-150. Well, i like the exterior look of the F-150 and thats about it. The inrerior looks cluttered and too busy. I havent driven one so i cant comment about the ride or powertrain but i’m sure it’s very good.
Speaking of incentives, Ford dealers around here have been advertising 10k in rebates for the F-150. I’m sure that boosted their sales tremendously.
Taco sales down, well i agree with you on that one Jason. the figures are misleading do to the exceptional 2009 sales for the Taco. But, the 2009 sales numbers are strange. You have to consider that the Taco can easily cost as much or more than a full size truck. Also, there are hardly ever a sales incentive on the Taco. Now, 2009 was when the auto industry took its big hit and sales were down globally for all manufacturers. So, why did an expensive smaller truck gain ground on larger less expensive trucks in a recessionary year? Your guess is as good as mine.
Danny – One more note that I neglected to include in the article about Taco sales. Tacoma production is way off between the closure of NUMMI and the spool-up in San Antonio. I was talking to a Toyota dealer yesterday and they’ve been told it will take as much as a year for Taco production to return to “normal.”
In the meantime, dealers have been told to expect a shortage of Tacomas.
As for why the Taco gained ground on the big trucks in 2009, the answer is the Cash For Clunkers program. Toyota absolutely killed Taco sales with that program. August’s sales decline will probably be worse than July’s (at least as far as the Tacoma is concerned).
Nothing like having a 55% american made truck. What I find funny is now you have to have metric and sae for the Big 3. I hated that when I had my Chevy. You never knew what you had. Now with my Tundra it’s all metric. So no issue. I know people don’t even think of this when they buy but it will come to bite them in the rear later on. Like a Rock or Built Ford tough with metric bolts. Man what a oxymoron.
Mickey – Good point about the metric.
Mickey – that used to drive me nuts (no pun intended) with my Ford Explorer. One bolt is standard with a metric nut right next to it (it also had a German engine with a French transmission, so much for American made). That said, the lug nuts on my Toyotas are standard (13/16ths and 7/8ths). Everything else is metric. Go figure.
Jason,
OK, i forgot about the Cash for Clunkers program and didn’t even think about the Nummi/San Antonio thing.
Mickey
You’re absolutely correct about the metric/sae thing. My Canadian 95 Z-71 and my 86 Buick GN are mixed. Primarily 13mm, 1/2 and 9/16.
Danny – Me too. First time I saw those numbers, I was like “What the hell is going on?” Then I talked to a source and it was all figured out.
Many buyers of ram pickups opt for the heavy duty versions because they are available. Ram nearly doubles the sales of Tundra. I too would consider a Tundra if I could get past the bed falling off and the frame rusting out. Toyota has been rocked very badly by recall and safety defects and have had to massivley discount their vehicles to stay afloat. I think I will stick with a real truck and not a toy.
jimmy – I like it! Despite the facts that Toyota’s incentives are less than competitors across the board, safety defects haven’t seemed to significantly impact sales, and – as far as I know – there’s never been a Tundra to have a bed fall off, you charge ahead.
Takes guts to say things that are obviously wrong – good for you!
hmmm, Toyota needed to massively discount their vehicles to stay afloat? i wish i would have known that so i could have bought another one.
furthermore, Dodge needed a bailout and a buyout to attempt to stay afloat. Dodge/Chrysler is far away from recovery. Who would have thought that a small company like Fiat could buy such a large company laiden with such massive debt. i guess the rate exchange for the euro gave them that lil’ extra boost in leverage
Oh, dont forget when you’re driving that Dodge, you’re now driving an import.