WASHINGTON (AFP) — Japanese automakers, Toyota and Honda, on Nov. 1 reported weaker U.S. sales in October compared with the same month last year while Kia of South Korea said it had improved results.
Toyota Motor Sales said its October sales declined 5.7 percent from October 1999 to 123,920.
"The economy’s smooth transition from express train to commuter train will continue to keep consumer confidence positive and industry sales strong," said Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president James Press.
"Even though the growth rate may moderate, industry sales will be strong and sustainable well into next year."
Year-to-date Toyota sales rose 9.8 percent to 1,359,200.
At Honda Motor Company sales declined 5.6 percent to 85,595 compared with October 1999 but were up 8.4 percent to 989,975 units in the first 10 months of the year.
Total Honda car sales dropped 7.9 percent to 64,337 units from October last year while those of trucks rose 2.1 percent to 21,258.
Kia Motors Corporation meanwhile reported that it had sold 13,736 vehicles in October, up from 10,641 a year earlier.
For the year to date, the company sold 133,453 units, and increase of 17 percent over the 1999 period.