Yaris sales hit new low...

[Kal-El]

July 2014 sales - 686 units sold (US) down 62% from last July.
Those numbers could justify actually dropping the model from the US market. Toyota has dropped many models that have sold more. The slow selling Scion xD sold an equal 682 and is being dropped.

Meanwhile, Nissan Versa (2 cars really), sold 15,630 copies (almost 23 times that of Yaris).

This is really sad to see. Especially since Yaris is a very good car with merits being ignored by shoppers, most notably reliability.

Elsewhere at Toyota...

Camry: 39,888 units
Corolla: 30,833 units

[teddy]

Maybe it's because the Yaris doesn't really offer anything anymore.

The Corolla (especially the new 2014 model) only costs a tiny bit more and offers more room, comfort, quality. It's even slightly better on gas than the Yaris, according to fueleconomy.gov.

That's within Toyota's own lineup. The Fit offers a lot more room and the Mazda 2 offers a sportier ride, then you end up with comparable options against the Civic too. I feel like I'm barely scratching the surface. When I bought my 2008 HB there wasn't this tight of a market.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

July 2014 sales - 686 units sold (US) down 62% from last July.
Those numbers could justify actually dropping the model from the US market. Toyota has dropped many models that have sold more. The slow selling Scion xD sold an equal 682 and is being dropped.

Meanwhile, Nissan Versa (2 cars really), sold 15,630 copies (almost 23 times that of Yaris).

This is really sad to see. Especially since Yaris is a very good car with merits being ignored by shoppers, most notably reliability.

Elsewhere at Toyota...

Camry: 39,888 units
Corolla: 30,833 units

. If Toyota decides to drop the Yaris, do you think it would be so abrupt that the 'refreshed' 2015 Yaris (scheduled to debut THIS month) would be pulled ?

[Kalispel]

The ONLY reason I can think of that people are buying a Versa over a Yaris is cost savings. The Versa isn't even on my radar for my next car purchase, nor is the ugly new Corolla, Fit or Civic, while either a used (2009-2011) or new (2015) Yaris is at the top of my list.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

The ONLY reason I can think of that people are buying a Versa over a Yaris is cost savings. The Versa isn't even on my radar for my next car purchase, nor is the ugly new Corolla, Fit or Civic, while either a used (2009-2011) or new (2015) Yaris is at the top of my list.

I wholeheartedly agree. I hope the 2015 USDM Yaris is allowed to hit the market. The article below (posted a few hours under 8 days ago) states that even the L will have a 60/40 split rear seat .

http://stylemagazine.com/news/2014/j...bcompact-2015/

[matti]

686 units for the month is incredible. Sales have always been low (compared to other models), but that's incredible. I won't be surprised if they completely pull the Yaris from the U.S. market.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by matti

686 units for the month is incredible. Sales have always been low (compared to other models), but that's incredible. I won't be surprised if they completely pull the Yaris from the U.S. market.

Remember the 2nd gen was in the 5000+ unit month range for a while. Of course that was with 2-3 body styles - sedan, 3 door, & 5 door.

[The Limo 2]

769 Yarii sold in Canada in July
Roy

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

. If Toyota decides to drop the Yaris, do you think it would be so abrupt that the 'refreshed' 2015 Yaris (scheduled to debut THIS month) would be pulled ?

Not at all. The investment has already been made. That said, 2015 could be the final refresh for the Yaris...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by tk-421

Not at all. The investment has already been made. That said, 2015 could be the final refresh for the Yaris...

Thank you. Music to my ears re the 2015 model year. I hope a healthy resurgence in sales results .

[matti]

I've always wondered about the "role" of the Yaris in Toyota's line-up. They don't advertise much for it (if at all) in the U.S. Is it kind of a loss-leader? I always felt the Yaris, in a way, serves two purposes:

1. Get people in the showroom so they can be talked up to a Corolla.
2. Get people to buy the Yaris so they become brand-loyal for life.

[tk-421]

I think there is such a thing as "too reliable a car for too little a profit" for a car manufacturer, and the Yaris most definitely fits that description. They are in the "selling cars" business, after all...

Smaller cars with less stuff in them are easier to make, ship, store and thus they should be easier to sell. It makes no sense to retire the model, other than lack of sales due to current Yaris owners keeping their cars for 10 years (and Toyota is to blame for that).

Another thing one should consider is that newer Yaris models have become pretty expensive. People expect more for that $15K these days...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by matti

I've always wondered about the "role" of the Yaris in Toyota's line-up. They don't advertise much for it (if at all) in the U.S. Is it kind of a loss-leader? I always felt the Yaris, in a way, serves two purposes:

1. Get people in the showroom so they can be talked up to a Corolla.
2. Get people to buy the Yaris so they become brand-loyal for life.

.....and to help Toyota make their CAFE numbers work.

[matti]

I agree with you.

[Kal-El]

The Yaris exists in America only because it already has to exist for other markets where sub-compacts sell big. Doesn't cost Toyota all that much to ship another model here, especially since they barely spend for marketing it.

[kimona]

Originally Posted by matti

I've always wondered about the "role" of the Yaris in Toyota's line-up. They don't advertise much for it (if at all) in the U.S. Is it kind of a loss-leader? I always felt the Yaris, in a way, serves two purposes:

1. Get people in the showroom so they can be talked up to a Corolla.
2. Get people to buy the Yaris so they become brand-loyal for life.

Well, you can buy a Corolla L automatic (with customer incentives) for less than a Yaris LE automatic (which has no incentives).

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Meanwhile, Nissan Versa (2 cars really), sold 15,630 copies (almost 23 times that of Yaris).

This is really sad to see. Especially since Yaris is a very good car with merits being ignored by shoppers, most notably reliability.

Yaris = $20,000 Versa = $15,000 may have something to do with it. People buying a small car for them a thousand or two less will cinch the deal.

Maybe Toyota will get smart and bring back the $11,000 2001 ECHO?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Yaris = $20,000 Versa = $15,000 may have something to do with it. People buying a small car for them a thousand or two less will cinch the deal.

Maybe Toyota will get smart and bring back the $11,000 2001 ECHO?

Cheapest Versa vs cheapest Yaris (Base) for 2014 = a bit under $2500.00. From what I've noticed in the past, dealers in NJ tend to order option laden Yarii. In the past couple of years I've noticed that trend spread to some high volume dealers in other areas as well.

I wonder how many of those '1-2k less will cinch the deal' people are looking at total cost of ownership....and basing the MPG off what owners are getting (can discover online), rather than the EPA ratings.