Toyota's sales up despite recall

Toyota Canada sold 25.2 per cent more vehicles in February compared to the same month a year earlier, despite a huge worldwide recall of its products, the automaker reported Tuesday.

It sold about 11,791 vehicles last month, with car sales rising 13 per cent and truck sales up 45 per cent.

Toyota sold 258 Prius models — a 55.4 per cent increase — and 2,906 Corollas, a nine per cent increase. 

Its luxury Lexus division saw sales rise 26 per cent, its best February ever.

Toyota has recalled 270,000 vehicles in Canada due to a defect that caused the accelerator pedal to stick.

The story was different in the U.S. where Toyota lost sales to its rivals. Its U.S. sales fell nine per cent last month, making it the only automaker to sell fewer cars and trucks. GM, Nissan and Honda all reported double-digit sales growth last month compared with a year earlier,

"We feel we're getting our fair share of the Toyota business," said Susan Docherty, vice-president of sales and marketing at GM, whose U.S. sales rose nearly 12 per cent.

Ford leads Canadian sales

Ford Canada said its sales increased by 51 per cent compared to February 2009, marking its ninth consecutive month of improvement and beating out General Motors to sell the most vehicles — 17,920 — in Canada last month.

GM doubled its retail sales for all its brands for a total of 10,109, compared with 5,107 in February of 2009.  

Chrysler Canada sold 14,045 vehicles, an increase of 17 per cent, to hold on to its No. 2 position in the Canadian market.

Chrysler saw a 47 per cent increase in sales of its minivans, the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, with combined sales of 4,415 units, giving it 85 per cent of the minivan market in Canada.

Honda Canada sold 8,917 vehicles, up 27 per cent. Sales of Honda-brand vehicles rose 33 per cent, while sales of Acura luxury vehicles were down 13 per cent.

Kia Canada sold 3,001 vehicles in February, up 35 per cent over the same period last year and its 14th month of consecutive sales growth.