The May auto industry sales numbers are in and things continue to look down for Honda and Toyota. Both brands saw big drops in their May sales, with Honda down 23 percent and Toyota down 33 percent. While the earthquake and tsunami are to blame for supply issues, it’s hard to ignore the fact that both automakers are losing ground with core products.

According to data compiled by the Examiner, neither of the top two Japanese automakers have a car in the Top 10 best selling cars list for the month. While normally the Civic, Accord, Camry and Corolla all place highly, the best of the bunch for May was the Camry in 12th place with 18,830 units sold. The Civic placed 13th with 18,341 units sold, while the Accord (including the Accord Crosstour) was in 14th with 18,185 units and the Corolla (including the Matrix) sold 16,985 to wind up in 16th spot.

Topping the list was Ford’s F-Series trucks, followed by the Chevy Silverado, while the first car to place is the Chevy Malibu in third, followed by the Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion to round out the top 5. Even domestic compacts did well in May with the Cruze in 8th place and the Focus in 9th.

Year-to-date, Honda and Toyota aren’t doing as poorly with the Camry in 3rd, the Accord in 4th, the Corolla in 5th and the Civic in 8th, but if the May sales numbers for these cars continue, both automakers could look to slip considerably.

[Source: Examiner]

The most popular mid-size sedan in the North American market is the Toyota Camry, and later this year we should see an all-new model.

The seventh generation model is set to debut this fall, as indicated by Toyota’s vice-president and general manager Bob Carter.

Toyota sold 327,804 Camry’s last year, and while that would be a huge and successful number for any automaker, it was in fact the lowest tally in Camry’s history since 1994. The current model had been in the market since March 2006.

No details have been given about the new Camry, but expect more of the same with some new clothing. It’s not yet clear if Toyota plans to continue to offer a V6 model, or switch to 4-cylinders only, like Hyundai has done with the new Sonata and Chevy is planning with the Malibu. A new Camry Hybrid will certainly be a part of the model mix.

[Source: Wards Auto]

The current Camry was last redesigned in 2006 and Toyota is preparing for the next model due this fall, according to WardsAuto.com.

Toyota faces fierce competition from the latest offerings out of Korea and the U.S, so the new model is of the utmost importance to the company. Toyota sold 327,084 Camrys in 2010 still leading midsize family sedans in sales, however this is the lowest sales figure for the Camry since 1994. Surprisingly, Toyota expected the Prius hybrid to outsell the Camry in future. As gas prices keep rising and families are switching from midsize sedans to compact cars, it will be interesting to see what happens to the Camry in the future.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

For the first time in its life, the Nissan Altima has outsold both the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, taking the title of America’s Best Selling Sedan.

Altima sales were up by 27 percent compared to last year, helping Nissan achieve a record month in sales. Currently, Nissan is offering a number of incentives, including 0 percent financing for 60 months, as a means of helping move Altimas, and previous incentives surely contributed to the car’s success.

Fleet sales weren’t included in the sales breakdown, so we can’t be sure how many made it into consumers hands rather than rental car fleets. Even though the Altima is top dog for now, the spread between the Altima and the third place Camry is less than 1,000 units, so the likelihood of things changing by year’s end is quite strong.

[Source: Nissan]

A shortage of parts means that Subaru‘s Indiana plant will have its production cut in half through the end of the week, and the company will assess the situation on a day to day basis to examine whether a continuation is necessary.

Each of the two shifts will have 4 hours cut from their length. The plant builts the Legacy, Outback and Tribeca models, strong sellers for the brand. Toyota also builds the Camry at the same plant but said that its production was not affected. Subaru was attempting to set a sales record in 2011, after a strong year in 2010 which saw it make substantial gains. But Subaru’s status as a smaller automaker and a smaller supplier base to draw on means that it could be more vulnerable to disruptions than larger automakers like Honda and Toyota.

[Source: Automotive News]

A fire at a Toyota assembly plant in Japan temporarily halted production at a facility that assembles the Prius, Camry and Scion tC. The fire broke out around 10 A.M. but was put out by now.

Toyota reports that no production equipment was damaged, but the fire did affect the factory’s ceiling. An investigation is being launched to determine the cause of the fire.

[Source: LeftLane News]

An investigation by NASA has cleared Toyota‘s electronics systems of causing the unintended acceleration phenomenon that was widely reported in 2010.

The Department of Transportation, who oversaw the investigation, released a statement claiming “NASA engineers found no electronic flaws in Toyota vehicles capable of producing the large throttle openings required to create dangerous high-speed unintended acceleration incidents.”

Although the report effectively vindicates Toyota’s claims that they were not at fault, the damage to the brand has been done, and is undoubtedly severe. Toyota recalled 8 million vehicles due to the scandal and paid nearly $50 million in regulatory fines.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Ford‘s F-Series truck is America’s best selling vehicle for the 34th straight year, moving an astounding 528, 349 units, up nearly 28 percent from 2009. In second place was the Chevrolet Silverado, which moved a relatively paltry 370,135 trucks, but saw a 17 percent jump in sales.

The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord duked it out for the title of Best Selling Passenger Car, with the Camry edging out the Accord by 16,423 units. Toyota sold 327,804 Camrys in 2010, a 7.5 percent drop, while Accord sales were up 8.1 percent to 311,381 units.

Rounding out the top 10 were the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Honda CR-V and Dodge Ram. Also noteworthy is that Ford sold more total units in 2010 than previous leader Toyota.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Volkswagen‘s New Midsize Sedan will debut at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month, as part of VW’ quest to increase sales in American to 800,000 units by 2018.

The NMS, like its smaller sibling, was designed with the North American market in mind, and will compete head-to-head with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. This has caused concern for loyal Volkswagen fans, but the company cites the move to a larger, more American-like vehicle as necessary if Volkswagen is to increase volume in the United States.

Volkswagen will also build the car at its new facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Pricing is expected to start at around $20,000, and both gasoline and diesel powertrains will be offered.

[Source: Automotive News]

AutoGuide’s 2011 Detroit Auto Show coverage starts January 10th. Until then, see our complete Detroit Auto Show preview here.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs’ Japanese arm have a dim forecast for Toyota, projecting an operating loss through the 2013 fiscal year, with Goldman predicting continued sales downturns in the United States, Europe and Japan, which comprise Toyota’s three biggest markets.

Toyota sales, hammered hard by recalls earlier in 2010, are not projected to keep pace with a rapidly growing worldwide vehicle market, despite maintaining a foothold as sales leader in Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. Sales in China and India are poorer than expected and lag behind many smaller rivals.

While the rising value of the yen has been blamed for decreasing profits for a variety of Japanese auto makers, the Goldman Sachs report unequivocally blamed “weak sales volume” as a cause for Toyotas woes. While the auto market has consistently grown between 8 and 9 percent over the past few years (and will continue to grow at that pace), Toyota has experienced sales drops of 15% in 2009 and 4% in 2010.

Goldman Sachs stated that the upcoming Camry launch in 2011, as well as a small car for the Chinese market, will prove crucial to the company’s recovery.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Armored cars are an expensive proposition, nearly always costing well above $100,000, and for this reason, they’re rarely anything but luxury sedans or SUVs.

The problem with this phenomenon is that the places where armored cars are really needed, discretion is often better than driving an ostentatious bling-mobile. Texas Armoring, one of the leading armored car manufacturers, has noticed a spike in demand for “ordinary” bulletproof cars, mostly from Mexico, where a war between government officials and drug traffickers have caused unprecedented violence.

The vehicles featured in the video include late model SUVs like the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Ford Excursion, while one rep mentions that cars like the Toyota Camry and Nissan Maxima have also been retrofitted.

Hit the jump to see the video on Texas Armoring

[Source: Jalopnik]

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Toyota‘s Camry has long enjoyed a plum position as America’s best-selling car. But a strong dip in sales, combined with a resurgent Honda Accord and the success of the new Hyundai Sonata could conspire to knock the Camry off of its pedestal.

Camry sales have fallen by about 8 percent this year, with November sales down by 24 percent compared to 2009. Meanwhile, Accord sales are up 7 percent while Sonata sales are up a whopping 65 percent. Even competitors like the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Impala and Nissan Altima are seeing increases. Some analysts are blaming the perfect storm of Toyota’s recall woes and a long product cycle for the drop in sales. With only a couple weeks to go until year-end, this one should be down to the wire.

[Source: Automotive News]

The National Insurance Crime Bureau released their list of the top 10 stolen cars for 2009 , and the perenial favorites, the Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry are in the Top 10 yet again, taking the top 3 spots respectively.

The trade in spare parts, and in the Honda’s case, engines, make them valuable commodities, and the cars are also desirable for export to Third World countries. Pick-up trucks were also in demand, as each of the Big Three’s brands were represented, as well as the Ford Explorer.

The good news is that car thefts are down 17.1 percent, and have been declining for the past 6 years.

[Source: NCIB]

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The Hyundai Sonata has officially bumped off the Nissan Altima to take 3rd place in the mid-size sedan sales race. The Sonata sold 21,399 units in August, closing in on the Honda Accord, which sold 22,506 units. The Toyota Camry enjoys a comfortable lead, selling just over 30,000 units in August. The figures exclude fleet and rental sales.

The Sonata has bested tough rivals like the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu. Buyers are apparently enticed by a strong warranty, low MSRP and generous equipment levels. About 75% of Sonata customers are “conquest buyers” who have traded in other brands for a Hyundai.

[Source: Detroit News]

Everybody stop what you’re doing. The 2011 Toyota Camry has received a slight fuel economy bump for 2011, with the V6 model  20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, up from 19 and 28 mpg from last year’s model.

New low-rolling-resistance tires help with the fuel economy raise, and for those that want more, the 4-cylinder (22 and 32 mpg respectively) and Hybrid (31/35 mpg) are much more sensible alternatives.

Hit the jump to find out more about one of America’s most utilitarian cars, and its 2011 updates.

[Source: Toyota]

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Mazda‘s excellent sedan, the Mazda6, is not really on the radar of most North American consumers, even though it’s a worthy competitor in the segment. That’s not to say that the car is a flop, but it’s not as strong a seller as, say the Hyundai Sonata or Ford Fusion, let alone the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.

Evidently, the car is popular in the rest of the world. Mazda has just celebrated building 2,000,000 Mazda6 sedans at its plant in Hofu, Japan. The milestone took roughly8 years to achieve, not a bad timeframe for a car from a smaller manufacturer like Mazda.

“I was the first generation model’s development program manager, and I still have a special fondness for this terrific car,” said Seita Kanai, head of R&D and Program Management for Mazda.  ”I’m grateful to the two million-plus customers around the world who have purchased a Mazda6. I would like to say thank you to each and every customer.”

Kudos to Mazda on building a boat load of fine cars that the common person can buy. We’re anxiously waiting for the upcoming diesel version due in 2012.

[Source: Mazda]

Kyle Busch isn’t without controversy both on and off the track. And while his fellow NASCAR drivers might have an unflattering thing or two to say about him, there’s no denying Busch is a force to be reckoned with on the race track. In an unprecedented set of events at Bristol, Tennessee, Busch drove two Toyota Camrys and a Toyota Tundra (no… not at the same time) to sweep the NASCAR weekend, becoming the first driver ever to do so.

The three events Busch swept were the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It was definitely a historic achievement for Toyota’s presence in NASCAR, and for Kyle Busch and his team. Now if only he could play nice with the other drivers.

Official press release available after the break.

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As part of a world-wide recovery plan, Toyota vehicles will get a standard front end treatment designed to unify the global lineup of Toyota vehicles. The new move is dictated by head honcho Akio Toyota’s directive to make Toyota cars have more “emotional appeal”, although its hard to see how the company can inject that into its appliance-like vehicles.

Sources say that regional considerations will have to be taken into account; the basic look of the car will be the same throughout the world, but markets such as China might get more chrome, for example. The new design language will also help their smaller cars appear bigger, in a bid to further standardize designs across world markets.

[Source: Inside Line]

An Indiana post office was evacuated Tuesday after a suspicious package was discovered, addressed to a Toyota factory. The package was determined harmless by a local bomb disposal technician, but the scare follows 3 other suspicious packages sent to other plants as well as Toyota USA headquarters.

According to police, the package originated in Nigeria, and contained a small metal tube with electronic parts inside. Similar packages were sent to Toyota plants and offices in Kentucky, West Virginia and Texas. Both Toyota and law enforcement officials have no idea what is motivating these bizarre hoaxes and will not comment on their nature. The FBI, as well as other federal officials are now investigating the matter

[Source: USA Today]

With the Cash-for-Clunkers program officially ending last night, the U.S. Department of Transportation has now released its top 10 list of the most purchased vehicles under the program, with the most popular car purchased being the Toyota Corolla.

Toyotas actually took three of the top 10 spots, with the Camry placing third and the new Prius ranking seventh. Honda did equally well, taking three of the top 10 spots, with the Civic coming in second, the Accord 8th and the Fit 9th.

Nissan and Hyundai each had one spot on the list with the Versa in 6th and the Elantra in 5th. Ford was the only U.S. automaker to break into the top 10, with the front-wheel drive Focus in 4th and the FWD Escape in 10th.

The “Top 10″ list doesn’t tell the whole story, however. While no General Motors products are listed in the top 10, collectively, GM products accounted for 17.6% of the total of new cars purchased under the program, second only to Toyota with 19.4%.

In total, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) generated 690,114 transactions worth a total of $2.8 billion.

“American consumers and workers were the clear winners thanks to the cash for clunkers program,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Manufacturing plants have added shifts and recalled workers. Moribund showrooms were brought back to life and consumers bought fuel efficient cars that will save them money and improve the environment. This is one of the best economic news stories we’ve seen and I’m proud we were able to give consumers a helping hand.”

In total, 84 percent of consumers traded in trucks, while 59 percent purchased cars. The average fuel economy of a car traded in was 15.8 mpg, whereas the average fuel economy of a car purchased was 24.9 mpg – an improvement of 9.2 mpg or 58 percent.

[Source: Department of Transportation]

The All-American Impala: Made in Canada

During President Obama’s press conference last week when he announced that Chrylser would file for Chapter 11, he asked Americans that if they were looking to buy a car, to look at American cars. The “buy American” philosophy drew harsh criticism from the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), which pointed out that buying American doesn’t necessarily mean buying a car from an American brand.

“AIADA objects to President Obama’s ‘buy American’ solution for the auto sector,” AIADA President Cody Lusk said in a statement. “In today’s globalized economy ‘buying American’ can mean anything from buying a Chevy Avalanche built by Mexican workers in Silao, Mexico to buying a Toyota Camry built by Americans in Georgetown, Kentucky.”

On that note, there is one way to tell exactly which country a car is manufactured in – the VIN number. That’s right, that odd 17-digit sequence of numbers and letters found on the dash under the windshield (and in numerous other places on a vehicle) holds the key to a vehicle’s country of origin.

Many VIN numbers, actually start with a letter. Those that start with a “J” are built in Japan and those with a “K” are from Korea. Most of the rest, however, aren’t so intuitive. VINs that start with a “W” are from Germany, while an “S” signifies England. Swedish cars get a “Y.”

The United States, Canada and Mexico all use a number system, with American-made cars using a VIN that starts with the number 1, while Canadian-made cars use a 2 and Mexican made cars use a 3.

The number of American vehicles made outside the U.S. is actually quite significant, while many “foreign” cars are built in American. In fact, one of America’s best-selling vehicles (and one that is also typically American) is actually built in Canada – the Chevy Impala.

Other made-in-Canada cars include the Buick Lacrosse, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis and the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

Made-in Mexico cars include the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Chevrolet HHR. And as for the the Chevy Aveo sub-compact, it comes from Korea.

On the flip-side, there are plenty of Japanese (and even some German) vehicles built in the U.S. of A. Some of the most significant include the high volume Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, while the Honda Element and Toyota Avalon are also U.S. products. Nissan builds several models in the United States while BMW manufactures the Z4 as well as the X5 and X6 in South Carolina.

… The more you know…

[Source: La Times]