Crisis-hit automaker Toyota yesterday said global sales surged 26.3 percent year-on-year last month, despite millions of safety recalls worldwide.
The Toyota group, which includes brands Daihatsu and Hino trucks, said it sold 876,126 vehicles last month, up from 693,759 a year earlier, spokesman Paul Nolasco said.
Also last month, Toyota said global production jumped 82.2 percent to 860,534 units compared with a year ago when the industry was in the grip of the global economic crisis.
The latest figures come as Toyota looks to restore its battered reputation after recalling about 10 million vehicles worldwide, mostly for problems with sudden acceleration that have been blamed for 58 deaths in the US.
In the latest blow, the automaker was downgraded by ratings agency Moody’s because of questions over the impact of recalls on the company’s profitability. Last week, the company agreed to pay a US$16.4 million fine, the largest for an automaker in the US, for hiding for at least four months accelerator pedal defects.
Toyota overtook General Motors in 2008 as the world’s top automaker, but the safety issues have raised questions about whether it sacrificed its legendary quality to become No. 1.
In a bid to restore its battered reputation it launched aggressive incentive programs in the US, including zero percent financing on recalled models, low lease rates and a free maintenance offers. Earlier this month, it reported a 40.7 percent surge in US sales last month.
Toyota’s climbing sales come as automakers worldwide witness a rebound from last year’s lows caused by the global economic downturn, with demand boosted by cost cuts and government stimulus measures. Japan’s other automakers also reported stronger production and sales figures yesterday. Third-largest Nissan saw global sales climb 39.2 percent to 431,681 units last month, with US sales up 43.4 percent and a 26.7 percent increase in Europe.
Honda, the second-largest after Toyota in Japan, said yesterday that worldwide production last month soared 61.9 percent to 349,425 units, while Mazda saw production more than double to 121,161 units, up 110.6 percent year-on-year.
Neither gave worldwide sales figures.
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