Toyota Motor Corp. posted its largest U.S. sales increase in five months and Hyundai Motor Co. led gains for Asia-based brands as September auto demand grew at the fastest rate since the "cash for clunkers" program in 2009.
Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, reported a 17 percent increase, while Hyundai jumped 48 percent. Sales for Honda Motor Co., Japan's second-largest carmaker, climbed 26 percent and Nissan Motor Co.'s increased 34 percent. Japanese and Korean brands raised sales a combined 27 percent, trailing a 33 percent gain for U.S. competitors and industrywide growth of 28.5 percent.
"Sales in fact were so strong during Labor Day, it felt like 2006 again," Bob Carter, group vice president of Toyota's U.S. sales, said Friday on a conference call.