Toyota No.2 in Canada

[Snowman]

Toyota in 2nd place in sales
Surpassing rivals in national share
Close to lead in British Columbia

Sep. 14, 2006. 07:12 AM
TONY VAN ALPHEN
BUSINESS REPORTER


Toyota has jumped into second place in retail vehicle sales across the country and is close to overtaking perennial industry leader General Motors in a province for the first time in Canadian automotive history.

Retail registrations, excluding fleet sales to corporate customers and daily rental companies, reveal Toyota quietly moved into second place nationally last year and is close to catching up to GM in British Columbia.

The R.L. Polk & Co. data, obtained by the Toronto Star, underscores the continuing strong shift away from the Big Three North American-based auto makers during the last five years, despite significant improvements in quality and reliability.

"The Big Three may have engineered better products but they haven't convinced consumers to come back to their models," said analyst Dennis DesRosiers, who tracks industry sales.

The retail data from Polk, an international auto consulting firm, shows market share for the Big Three has dropped almost seven percentage points to 46.7 per cent since 2002.

Toyota sped past Honda and Ford in 2003 and topped DaimlerChrysler last year in new vehicle registrations. Honda also passed DaimlerChrysler last year and is just behind Ford.

Analysts note new vehicle registrations are a more accurate reflection of market movement. GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler rely on bulk fleet sales far more than their Japanese, Korean and European rivals.

When fleet sales, which comprise almost 30 per cent of the overall market, are taken into account, GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler have maintained their respective top three positions in the Canadian market.

But Toyota and Honda have also made strong gains in overall sales and passed Ford or DaimlerChrysler in some provinces, according to DesRosiers, who declined comment on the Polk retail data.

Polk officials also would not discuss new vehicle registration data for the first half of the year.

In the Canadian retail market, GM's share has fallen to 23.9 per cent this year, from 28.3 per cent in 2002. One percentage point represents about 15,000 vehicles.

GM, which still leads in every province, has lost market share in each one during the five-year period. Chrysler has also dropped its retail share in every province, while Ford has slipped in six of them.

Meanwhile, the data indicates Toyota's share, including its Lexus luxury brand, has climbed to 13.7 per cent nationally from 10 per cent. It has passed DaimlerChrysler, Ford and Honda since 2002.

Toyota has gained at least two percentage points in market share in every province and more than four in Quebec, Manitoba and Newfoundland.

Honda has increased market share in six provinces while Mazda has improved in seven.

But in British Columbia, Toyota is within striking distance of GM for the first time in retail registrations.

GM's sales have slid to 11,838, or 17.5 per cent, of the province's market in the first half of this year from 13,952, or 22.7 per cent, in the same 2002 period.

In contrast, Toyota's retail business has climbed to 10,287, or 15.2 per cent, of the province's market from 7,399, or 12 per cent, in the same periods. Mirroring the national shift, Toyota has also passed Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Honda to become the second-biggest auto retail seller in the province.

Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota Canada Inc., said B.C. consumers are particularly sensitive to environmental and lifestyle issues, and the company's products address those needs.

Beatty also said Toyota prefers to focus on continuing to challenge itself rather than to look at its rivals.

"If we started looking at this as a horse race, we would be taking our eyes off the fundamentals of our business."

In addition to its growth in B.C., Toyota has moved into second place in retail sales in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Although Honda has not gained as much as Toyota, it has passed Ford and DaimlerChrysler in retail registrations in B.C. and Quebec. Mazda has also overtaken Ford and DaimlerChrysler in Quebec.

In the key Ontario market, GM still has a hefty lead over its rivals, despite a decline. GM's first-half retail registrations have tumbled to 54,050, or a 25.4 per cent share, from 74,942, or 31 per cent, in the same 2002 period.

Toyota's retail sales have climbed to 27,796, or 13.1 per cent, from 24,074, or 10 per cent, in 2002.

Honda has also overtaken DaimlerChrysler in Ontario and is close to passing Ford in the province, according to the data.

While the Polk data from some provinces is surprising, recent statistics for U.S. state California are startling.

In the first half, Polk registration figures showed Toyota held 26.7 per cent of the state's retail market, far ahead of 14.4 per cent for GM, 9.9 per cent for Ford and 7.1 per cent for DaimlerChrysler. Honda had 14.1 per cent and is also close to passing GM there.

[MKII]

Sales for August 2006

DaimlerChrysler 20,252 
Ford 21,266 
General Motors 37,012
Honda 15,579
Toyota 17,865

[nightmare]

Sad , just plain sad.

[UmroAyyar]

Its time for Toyota to consolidate and solidify the gains. Rivals are offering very good content and safety features in their base models. There have been some issues with quality control resulting in recalls. Climbing the No.1 spot is in its grasp but the reason Toyota made these gains , quality, reliability needs to be solidified.

[laspalmas]

Its time for Toyota to consolidate and solidify the gains. Rivals are offering very good content and safety features in their base models. There have been some issues with quality control resulting in recalls. Climbing the No.1 spot is in its grasp but the reason Toyota made these gains , quality, reliability needs to be solidified.

Good point, Umro

[Leviathan]

Mazda has also overtaken Ford and DaimlerChrysler in Quebec.

Interesting.

[JSCC]

Comparing car sales by province?
Man! And I thought I was detailed oriented! 

What's next? By auto mall? By hours?

[random006]

Comparing car sales by province?
Man! And I thought I was detailed oriented! 

I don't know why you are so surprised.  Breaking down national sales by province for any big ticket item is quite reasonable, especially for a country as big and diverse as Canada.

Cars are not like batteries, serving identical needs and available cheaply everywhere.  A set of double A batteries will power the same digital cameras, mini-flashlights and other devices be they used in Newfoundland or BC.  A vehicle, by contrast is quite expensive and in many cases, somewhat specialized in its application.

It has been noted in this very forum that pickups tend to sell better out west than they do in, say, Quebec.  Haven't you ever wondered why?  Car companies need to know that data in order to target their products.  Furthermore, stats geeks like myself  also like to know this info as it helps paint a picture of this country.

[Mr Meow]

Toyota in 2nd place in sales
Surpassing rivals in national share
Close to lead in British Columbia

Sep. 14, 2006. 07:12 AM
TONY VAN ALPHEN
BUSINESS REPORTER


Toyota has jumped into second place in retail vehicle sales across the country and is close to overtaking perennial industry leader General Motors in a province for the first time in Canadian automotive history..

See I been saying that for years on here, That you only had to look across the car parks of canada to know the truth, That domestic are rubbish. people are not buying them. I won't and I know a lot of people who will never ever buy a domestic. Most people I always ask say I will never buy another American Car......

What sad for me Is I really like Dodges. I could see myself in a 07 Challeger. In fact I would love one. I like everything about the car. But I never ever buy one. too risky, I'll be afraid it would brake down.
.

.

[RunsinLight]

I bought an North American car because of the outstanding reliability I had on my 2 previous ones. lol
I've talked to lots of people who have had Toyota's and Honda both and ended in nothing but a long string of problems, and now sware by Hyundi or some other company.  I never cared if other company's offered longer warrenties. I've never had a use for one personally.

There are lots of good stories about North American cars. But all you will hear about is money, CEO's, and job loses.

[hondasalesguy]

RunsinLight - try proofing your work before you post it...If you want people thinking that smart folks buy domestic, 4 typos in 4 sentences aren't exactly reassuring to us.

[Snowman]

Toyota in 2nd place in sales
Surpassing rivals in national share
Close to lead in British Columbia

Sep. 14, 2006. 07:12 AM
TONY VAN ALPHEN
BUSINESS REPORTER




Toyota has jumped into second place in retail vehicle sales across the country and is close to overtaking perennial industry leader General Motors in a province for the first time in Canadian automotive history..

See I been saying that for years on here, That you only had to look across the car parks of canada to know the truth, That domestic are rubbish. people are not buying them. I won't and I know a lot of people who will never ever buy a domestic. Most people I always ask say I will never buy another American Car......

What sad for me Is I really like Dodges. I could see myself in a 07 Challeger. In fact I would love one. I like everything about the car. But I never ever buy one. too risky, I'll be afraid it would brake down.
.

.

  why don't you shut your stupid mouth.

Edit:....Either Mr. Meow goes or I go…your call.

[RunsinLight]

RunsinLight - try proofing your work before you post it...If you want people thinking that smart folks buy domestic, 4 typos in 4 sentences aren't exactly reassuring to us.

Typing and car knowledge are two completely different things.  Don't like what i wrote, don't read it. It really is just that simple. If you went to a garage, this was the best Toyota Mechanic in town, but was a terrible speller. Your saying you would go somewhere else? Because, as you put it, this guy doesn't sound to reassuring to me. I don't care if he can spell gas tank. Has nothing do with fixing it.

[RunsinLight]

RunsinLight - try proofing your work before you post it...If you want people thinking that smart folks buy domestic, 4 typos in 4 sentences aren't exactly reassuring to us.

I Never said I wanted people to think that. But.. seeing you are great speller here, you already knew that. 

[Snowman]

RunsinLight - try proofing your work before you post it...If you want people thinking that smart folks buy domestic, 4 typos in 4 sentences aren't exactly reassuring to us.

[Snowman]

RunsinLight - try proofing your work before you post it...If you want people thinking that smart folks buy domestic, 4 typos in 4 sentences aren't exactly reassuring to us.

  I would buy domestic and I have one parked in my driveway right now. I have difficultly spelling and I can tell you that I make 4 times what you do on an annual basis.....STFU!.

[tenpenny]

I bought an North American car because of the outstanding reliability I had on my 2 previous ones. lol
I've talked to lots of people who have had Toyota's and Honda both and ended in nothing but a long string of problems, and now sware by Hyundi or some other company.  I never cared if other company's offered longer warrenties. I've never had a use for one personally.

There are lots of good stories about North American cars. But all you will hear about is money, CEO's, and job loses.

I'm so happy for you.  I dun talked with a herd of folks that I know, some of which is me, and thems peeples have only bot them Jay-pan-yese cars, and have had no prollems a-tall.  In fack, not a won.  Whereas be it so, my bossman, he buy the new magnum, it be a piece of crapola.  Dashobordo only work in miles, dealer cannot fix, computer screwed up.  If he fills the gas tank, the car will stall when he restarts it, dealer have to put in new gas tank.  Babysitter for emma louise, her husband have equinox, big piece of shitola.

I aint never herd of a folk what had a "string" of prollems with there Honders or Toy autos, but mebbe we's all rong.

Mind you, wese keeps our cars for like 8 years or so, and aint never, and I mean never, had a warranty claim.  Maybe we jus luky I guess it so.

[AVToller]

  Now that I understood Tenpenny. Well written!! 

[barrie1]

I still buy Domestic cars as well and usually have very good luck with them as well. Not everybody is Sold on the Imported cars as yet as some of us have tried them and have had very bad experiences with them. No-body builds a perfect vehicle yet but the Domestic vehicles are being built a lot better now then in the past. A persons spelling here is not a big issue in my mind as its the meaning or content of their message thats important. If thats all a person can find to about then thats sinking rather low IMHO. 

[ovr50]

Toyota in 2nd place in sales
Surpassing rivals in national share
Close to lead in British Columbia

Sep. 14, 2006. 07:12 AM
TONY VAN ALPHEN
BUSINESS REPORTER


Toyota has jumped into second place in retail vehicle sales across the country and is close to overtaking perennial industry leader General Motors in a province for the first time in Canadian automotive history..

See I been saying that for years on here, That you only had to look across the car parks of canada to know the truth, That domestic are rubbish. people are not buying them. I won't and I know a lot of people who will never ever buy a domestic. Most people I always ask say I will never buy another American Car......

What sad for me Is I really like Dodges. I could see myself in a 07 Challeger. In fact I would love one. I like everything about the car. But I never ever buy one. too risky, I'll be afraid it would brake down.
.

.

You're full of it, Meow.