Autoblog

Toyota already forecasting record sales in 2013

Zach Bowman — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Toyota is expecting to see a sales increase of around two percent next year, according to Automotive News. The Japanese manufacturer is set to retake its position as the world's largest automaker this year, and 2013 may see the company's global sales step to 9.91 million vehicles. That figure includes sales from subsidiaries like Hino Motors and Daihatsu Motor Company. Much of that projection depends on US sales increasing to balance out a 15-percent decline in Japan. The Japanese government allowed subsidies for fuel-efficient vehicles to expire in September, and Toyota sales have slackened as a result.

Globally, new vehicle sales are expected to crest 80 million units for the first time in 2012 despite economic woes in the European Union. Next year, Toyota expects to see its overseas operations enjoy an eight percent rise in sales to 7.87 million units while Japanese deliveries are projected to decline to 2.04 million vehicles. The company predicts sales in Asia, meanwhile, will be driven largely by Indonesia. Interestingly enough, the company has not settled on a sales target for China.

Toyota already forecasting record sales in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forecasters throttle back U.S. car sales projections for 2012, 2013

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

The last we heard, the auto industry was booming. Sales are healthy and recovery from the multi-year slump brought on by the global economic meltdown of 2008 is well on its way, with domestic sales projected to reach as high as 14.5 million vehicles. We even heard a rumor that Ford would soon be installing cash machines in its executive lavatories that dispensed well-worn twenties.

Okay, so that last part isn't true. But the first is also suspect, according to new forecasts from analysts. As reported by Reuters, LMC Automotive, formerly a branch of JD Power, has revised its 2012 prediction down to 14.3 million vehicles, matching that of rival consultant Polk. LMC also cut its forecast for 2013, from 15.2 million to 15 million, though it does expect the U.S. auto industry to be back at 2007's 17-million-unit level by 2017.

Other projections are even more conservative, according to the report. Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research, is hedging his bets, pointing out that housing usually recovers first after a recession, while this year upwards of 40 percent of economic growth has been auto-related. CAR's forecast calls for 2012 sales to stop at 14.2 million and next year's totals to hit just 14.6 million units.

Forecasters throttle back U.S. car sales projections for 2012, 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A.T. Kearney forecasting 14.4 million U.S. vehicle sales in 2011... what do you think?

Chris Shunk — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Earnings/Financials

2009 was the single worst sales year for the auto industry in 30 years, with just 10.4 million vehicles moving off dealer lots. Consultancy A.T. Kearney feels a lot better about 2010 and beyond, though, as pent-up demand is beginning to creep into the market. A.T. Kearney predicts that by the time 2010 is in the history books, the industry will have hit between 11.4 and 12.3 million cars and trucks sold, but if you hold the company to just one number, it estimates a market of 11.7 million units.

If the economic recovery continues to gain steam, 2011 could see 14.4 million sales. That would be a huge sum for an industry that has scaled back production to meet current demand. The firm feels 2012 will bring auto sales back to pre-industry collapse, with an estimated 16.6 million cars and trucks manufactured.

It's worth noting that the A.T. Kearney forecast is quite a bit more aggressive than many we've seen, but analyst Daniel Cheng tells Reuters that the analysis closely follows what happened in the early 1980s, when demand shot right back up after a lull of a couple of years. Among the potential calamities that could derail the industry's climb back to normalcy are a double-dip recession and credit that doesn't loosen up over time.

If A.T. Kearney's industry sales forecast comes close to true, we're thinking there are going to be a lot of happy automakers in carmaking nations the world over. The industry will need to hire more workers, which won't be bad for the economy, either.

Where do you think the industry will finish in 2011? Leave your best guess in 'Comments.'

[Source: Reuters | Image: Getty]

A.T. Kearney forecasting 14.4 million U.S. vehicle sales in 2011... what do you think? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Toyota increases 2009-2010 global sales forecast by 3%

Chris Shunk — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

There have been subtle signs that demand for new cars and trucks are improving. Several automakers plan to increase production over the next few months, and Toyota is no different. Reuters is reporting that the World's Largest Automaker has raised its sales forecast by 3% to 6.7 million units for the year ending March 2010. Toyota is also reportedly looking to increase production by a not-so-subtle 8% to a total of 6.45 million units. Toyota is neither confirming or denying the report, which originated in the Tokyo Shimbun daily.

Some of the reasons cited for the increased forecast and production center around incentives from governments all over the world. Here in the States, Cash for Clunkers payed a big role in Toyota's sales increase, while low emissions vehicle subsidies of up to $2,800 by the Japanese government has helped spur sales in the automaker's home market.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Toyota increases 2009-2010 global sales forecast by 3% originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota raises production forecast by 3%; losing ground to GM

Chris Shunk — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Toyota, Volkswagen

The global auto sales downturn has been as painful as it's been swift, but a report from Yomiuri shows that the worst of times may be over. The Japanese news agency (via Automotive News) reports that Toyota has raised its vehicle production forecast upwards by 3% to 6.5 million units. That's still a far cry from Toyota's amazing 2008, yet the positive adjustment is still worth over 300,000 units of additional production.

That's welcome news to Toyota's manufacturing facilities around the world, as the drop in sales in the first half of 2009 left the Japanese automaker with far too much inventory. With the upward revision of production for the rest of the year, factories could be running more steadily.

While Toyota appears to be back on the upswing, it's facing renewed pressure from General Motors for the top spot in global sales. In the first half of 2009, GM closed the gap in overall production to only 11,000 units versus Toyota, a far cry from the 274,000 unit differential in the first half of 2008. GM, which struggled more than most in the US during the first half of the year, had far stronger results in emerging markets like China and South America, with overall sales down 21% versus 2008. Toyota's sales dipped 26% during the same period. Volkswagen also made a big jump compared to Toyota, as the German automaker's sales dropped only 5.1% in the first half of the year. VW is now within 500,000 units of Toyota during the first six months of the year.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Toyota raises production forecast by 3%; losing ground to GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota boosts profit forecast, aiming for top spot

Stuart Waterman — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Get those big foam fingers ready, Toyota fans - the Japanese automaker looks set to vault into the global #1 spot sooner than later. The automaker is now predicting that worldwide sales will grow 11 percent in 2008, to 9.8 million units. General Motors, the current number one, sold 9.17 million units in 2005.

Toyota also revised its profit forecast Wednesday. Upward. By over 31 percent. In a blinding flash of the obvious, a senior VP at Fuji Investment Management called the new numbers "impressive" and went out on a limb to say, "I think Toyota is a buy." However, most of the increased profit can be attributed to the continued weakness of the Japanese yen.

Toyota plans to fuel continued growth with strategic new products, including a low-cost vehicle for emerging markets, particularly in Asia, and flex-fuel vehicles for the booming Brazilian market. In more-developed markets, we can expect continued development of plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. In the near term, the North American market is the target of a major push into the full-size truck market and expansion of the Scion brand.

[Source: Reuters]

Toyota boosts profit forecast, aiming for top spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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