Toyota's U.S. Market Share Dives to 55-Month Low in Feb.

New York, March 2 (Jiji Press)--Toyota Motor Corp.'s <7203> share in the U.S. automobile market dived to the lowest level in 55 months in February as sales dropped following its massive vehicle recalls, industry data showed Tuesday.

The top Japanese automaker saw its sales of new cars and light
trucks fall 8.7 pct from a year before to 100,027 units, driving down its
market share to 12.8 pct, the lowest since July 2005, from 14.1 pct in
January, research firm Autodata Corp. said.
Toyota was the only major automaker to post the second straight
month of sales fall as safety concerns caused by the recalls kept consumers
away from its vehicles.
U.S. automakers benefited from Toyota's downfall.
Ford Motor Co. saw its sales jump 43.5 pct from a year earlier to
137,365 units with a share of 17.6 pct, closing in on General Motors Co.
whose sales rose 12.7 pct to 141,438 units. Chrysler Group LLC's sales
gained 0.5 pct.
Industrywide sales rose 13.3 pct to 780,265 units.
The latest data indicated that Toyota's quality problems have had
little impact on other Japanese automakers.
Honda Motor Co. <7267> saw its sales grow 12.7 pct to 80,671 units.
Nissan Motor Co.'s <7201> sales jumped 29.4 pct to 70,