Toyota US Sales Up 6.7% In November

Toyota Motor Corp.’s (TM, 7203.TO) U.S. auto sales rose 6.7% in October as higher car sales offset declines in sales of trucks and sport-utility vehicles.

Supply shortages after an earthquake struck Japan in March hit Toyota and Honda Motor Co. (HMC, 7267.TO) the hardest, and both companies reported steep profit declines in the first three quarters of the year.

Just as Toyota’s production was recovering from shortages due to the March earthquake, its global output was crimped by component shortages from massive flooding in Thailand, where it builds parts and some autos for export. November’s results represent Toyota’s first year-over-year sales increase in the U.S. in seven months.

Toyota reported it sold 137,960 vehicles in the U.S. last month, up from 129,317 a year ago, and 2.9% above October’s total.

Total car sales were 19% higher from the year-ago period, while light truck sales decreased 6%. Sport-utility vehicle sales fell 9.8%. Pickup sales slipped 0.2%.

Toyota reported Yaris sales more than doubled, while Prius sales rose 49%. Camry sales improved 13% in the latest month.

November had 25 sales days, while the year-earlier period had 24 sales days.