On the Dash:
- Honda sales dropped 15.3% in November due to supply shortages and weaker truck demand.
- Toyota sales rose 2.7% as strong light truck volume offset declines in Lexus and EV models.
- Both automakers relied heavily on hybrid demand as EV sales continued to weaken across the U.S. market.
Honda and Toyota reported sharply different U.S. sales results for November as supply constraints and shifting electrified demand shaped performance across both automakers. Honda sales fell 15.3% to 102,824 vehicles, while Toyota posted a 2.7% gain with 212,772 units sold. The two companies continued to rely on hybrid models to sustain volume as EV demand weakened after the federal tax credit expired in September.
Honda faced the steepest declines among major automakers last month. Honda brand sales declined 16.8% to 91,582 units, driven by a 21% decline in light-truck demand. The company said semiconductor shortages tied to Nexperia suppliers reduced output and tightened inventories. Honda ended November with 145,634 units in stock, down from October and below year-earlier levels. Passenger car sales remained stable, led by the Civic and Accord, but volume could not offset weaker truck performance. Acura sales slipped 1.4% to 11,242 units, though the brand posted steady SUV demand and modest sedan gains.
Even with the November slowdown, American Honda’s year-to-date sales remain up 1.8% at 1.31 million vehicles. Honda’s electrified models continue to outperform internal combustion entries. The company has already set a new annual record for electrified sales with more than 385,000 units sold this year.
Toyota delivered a stronger performance with a 4.4% increase at the Toyota division. Light trucks drove the gains with a 6.6% rise, supported by higher deliveries of the 4Runner, Highlander, Grand Highlander and Sequoia. Lexus posted a 6.2% decline after several months of growth, but the broader Toyota Motor North America portfolio stayed positive. Year to date, Toyota sales are up 7.7%.
Toyota’s hybrid lineup remained a major contributor, although electrified volume fell 6% to 93,082 units. Nearly all of those sales came from gasoline hybrid models, as its two EVs, the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ, lost momentum alongside the broader market.
Both automakers enter December with hybrid strength but face continued pressure from supply constraints and weakening EV demand across the industry.
