In an effort to maintain sales momentum from March, Toyota USA has extended incentives until May 3rd. Incentives, which include deals for five years of 0% financing and free maintenance were slated to expire earlier this past Monday, April 5th. The 0% offer no longer applies to the Highlander and the Rav4, but six other models, including the Toyota Tundra, are still applicable.
Of course, the incentives were originally put in place in an effort to stem losses suffered as a result of continued recall fallout. It worked like a charm, as Toyota benefited from a 41% increase in sales when you compare 2010 March sales to those from the previous year. Unfortunately for Toyota, March was a good month for carmakers and dealers in general. GM also saw phenomenal March sales, with numbers up 43% from 2009. While sales seemed to be cooling off across the board by the end of the month, Toyota might have a slightly easier time fending off mounting competition from GM as 6 million older Chevy and GMC trucks are now facing the possibility of recall.
