Nissan, Toyota U.S. sales up, Honda sales are down

Japanese automakers Toyota Motor and Nissan Group posted U.S. sales increases in September, while Honda sales were flat, despite projections of an overall industry decline for the month.Toyota’s sales rose 1.5% for the month to 197,260 vehicles, as the company’s namesake Toyota brand rose 1.4% and its luxury Lexus brand increased 2%. American Honda sold 133,655 units in September, just 95 fewer than it sold a year earlier. The namesake Honda brand recorded a 1.5% increase, while the Acura luxury brand fell 12.9%.

Nissan Group posted a surprisingly strong month for U.S. sales in September, recording 4.9% growth compared to a year earlier after several forecasts of sales declines. Judy Wheeler, vice president of sales for the Nissan division, said trucks and SUVs led the way. Sales of the Murano and Rogue set sales records. The Japanese automaker sold 127,797 vehicles in the U.S. market, including 4.3% growth for its namesake Nissan brand and 11.7% growth for its luxury Infiniti brand. Discounts might have helped, too. Nissan incentives rose 12.1% in September, compared to a year earlier, to $3,896 per vehicle.

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