Toyota expects its US sales for May to regain the momentum lost due to last year’s Japan earthquake and Thai floods.
Speculation in the US suggests Toyota could even surge ahead of Ford which is second place behind General Motors.
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Toyota is trying to make an impact with lots of new models, improved inventory and an aggressive sales campaign, the Detroit Free Press said.
Edmunds.com and TrueCar.com both think Toyota sales could be up almost 90% in a month where total industry sales could rise at least 30% year on year.
“You will probably see Toyota report numbers that will shock everyone,” Bob Page, owner of Page Toyota in Southfield, Michigan, told the Detroit paper. “We probably are going be up about 70-75% for the month.”
Edmunds.com said May sales should rise for all carmakers. Chrysler is expected to be up 42.2% while rises 16.3% and GM improves 11.4%. Honda’s sales are expected up 49.7% and Nissan’s up 28.1%.
Toyota’s sales campaign includes 0% finance, along with special lease rates for many models.
GM does not expect much improvement in sales in May as it had gained significantly due to Toyota’s poor performance last year.
“Everyone is expecting the Japanese to show large year over year increases,” GM spokesman Jim Cain told the Detroit Free Press.
Toyota is reportedly offering finance to customers with lower credit ratings.
