View Poll Results: Will Camry lose the sales crown in 2011?
Yes
11
16.92%
No
44
67.69%
I hope all the bad things in life happen to the Camry and only the Camry
5
7.69%
All hail Hyundai!
5
7.69%
Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll
The Toyota Camry's days at No. 1 may be numbered
12-06-10, 07:03 AM
#1
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The Toyota Camry's days at No. 1 may be numbered
The Toyota Camry's days at No. 1 may be numbered
December 3, 2010 - 10:15 am ET
Rick Kranz is product editor for Automotive News.
The Camry continues to be the No. 1 selling car in the United States, but Toyota’s bragging rights are in jeopardy.
Specifically, sales of Toyota’s top-selling vehicle are losing steam.
Despite an overall market that bounced back 17 percent in November, Camry sales dropped a whopping 24 percent last month. For the year, sales are off 8 percent.
The competition, meanwhile, is gaining steam.
For the 11-month period, the Honda Accord, the No. 2 selling car, is closing in, 17,581 units behind. Sales are up 7 percent for the year. The Accord is unlikely to surpass Camry this year, but 2011 could be a different story if Toyota’s recall woes remain on the minds of shoppers.
Besides the Accord, each similar-sized sedan in the 11-month Top 10 list is on the plus side.
Sales of Hyundai’s redesigned Sonata jumped 65 percent. The Chevrolet Malibu is up 32 percent; Ford Fusion, 22 percent; and Nissan Altima, 12 percent. Even the long-in-the-tooth Impala climbed 6 percent.
Camry has been the No. 1 selling car since 2002 -- this year would be ninth straight year. But with Toyota’s bulletproof reputation damaged, Honda could end 2011 shouting, “We’re No. 1.”
December 3, 2010 - 10:15 am ET
Rick Kranz is product editor for Automotive News.The Camry continues to be the No. 1 selling car in the United States, but Toyota’s bragging rights are in jeopardy.
Specifically, sales of Toyota’s top-selling vehicle are losing steam.
Despite an overall market that bounced back 17 percent in November, Camry sales dropped a whopping 24 percent last month. For the year, sales are off 8 percent.
The competition, meanwhile, is gaining steam.
For the 11-month period, the Honda Accord, the No. 2 selling car, is closing in, 17,581 units behind. Sales are up 7 percent for the year. The Accord is unlikely to surpass Camry this year, but 2011 could be a different story if Toyota’s recall woes remain on the minds of shoppers.
Besides the Accord, each similar-sized sedan in the 11-month Top 10 list is on the plus side.
Sales of Hyundai’s redesigned Sonata jumped 65 percent. The Chevrolet Malibu is up 32 percent; Ford Fusion, 22 percent; and Nissan Altima, 12 percent. Even the long-in-the-tooth Impala climbed 6 percent.
Camry has been the No. 1 selling car since 2002 -- this year would be ninth straight year. But with Toyota’s bulletproof reputation damaged, Honda could end 2011 shouting, “We’re No. 1.”
12-06-10, 07:06 AM
#2
Boom and gloom, the sky is falling, the end is near, etc. 
The car is at the end of it's life cycle and will be replaced within the next few months. Additionally, the Camry became the "face" of the floormat and unintended acceleration issues, and that obviously didn't help.
The car is at the end of it's life cycle and will be replaced within the next few months. Additionally, the Camry became the "face" of the floormat and unintended acceleration issues, and that obviously didn't help.
12-06-10, 07:12 AM
#3
It's a possibility.
And it's better that the Camry (and Toyota in general) have something to worry about. Toyota needs to (a) find ways to up the competition, (b) retain old customers, and (c) find ways to encourage new buyers.
I think Toyota does a good job with B, but not A & C...
And it's better that the Camry (and Toyota in general) have something to worry about. Toyota needs to (a) find ways to up the competition, (b) retain old customers, and (c) find ways to encourage new buyers.
I think Toyota does a good job with B, but not A & C...
12-06-10, 07:45 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Any and all car manufacturers would love to have models that hold the top positions occupied by Camry/Accord/Sonata. Sonata being the most recently released has obviously had the most sales growth in past year. The number should not be the primary focus (#1), getting the new Camry right for model year 2013 should be.
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12-06-10, 07:57 AM
#8
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I thought sure the new one was coming as a 2012. No? 2011 marks 5 years. Is Toyota honestly going to stretch it 6 years when the competition is as fierce as ever? If so, they deserve to lose #1 this year. I was expecting to see the 2012 surface soon. That was the assumption.
If we do see a new model by next fall, I think that sales boost will win them the 2011 title as well.
If we do see a new model by next fall, I think that sales boost will win them the 2011 title as well.
12-06-10, 08:00 AM
#9
The new design '12 Camry is coming out this Fall.I went with an '11.With the way Toyota quality issues are,I didn't want to buy a first year Camry model.Got burnt on a '07 XLE purchase and a deer did me a favor.
The '10 RX was released in Feb or March '09.I waited till 4/10 to buy one.
After all the front bumper cover falling off,rear shock problems etc were fixed.
The '10 RX was released in Feb or March '09.I waited till 4/10 to buy one.
After all the front bumper cover falling off,rear shock problems etc were fixed.
Last edited by Joeb427; 12-06-10 at 08:15 AM.
12-06-10, 08:13 AM
#10
Lexus Champion
We'll see how it goes.
Though yeah, a Camry is more suited to rich businessmen and people going in their 40s or older or are going into retirement. Suggest this proposition to a teenager or someone who is younger than forty years old, then they would rather go with something more thrilling and sporty (i.e. Sonata or a Subaru Legacy or a Mazda 6)
Though yeah, a Camry is more suited to rich businessmen and people going in their 40s or older or are going into retirement. Suggest this proposition to a teenager or someone who is younger than forty years old, then they would rather go with something more thrilling and sporty (i.e. Sonata or a Subaru Legacy or a Mazda 6)
12-06-10, 08:17 AM
#12
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Well, this should all be taken with a nice dose of salt. The masses are hard to predict and Camry, despite being wounded, is still a juggernaut. I would say it all comes down to the next gen Camry, Accord, and Altima. Sonota will be in its current form for a few more years. It is possible that a new generation of less conservative buyer is coming on line. It may be a matter of the Camry adapting to this customer.
It is possible that the best selling title could change hands. The Ford Taurus was the best seller in this class for several years before being overtaken by Accord and Camry and it never recovered.
It is possible that the best selling title could change hands. The Ford Taurus was the best seller in this class for several years before being overtaken by Accord and Camry and it never recovered.
12-06-10, 09:12 AM
#15
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It should be considered an achievement that the Camry is still the #1 seller, even though it's getting pretty stale. Five years on the market, no major re-designs, and still selling more than the newer competition? I don't think it's going anywhere.