The U.S. light-vehicle market witnessed a blend of outcomes in April, with Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. reporting sales gains, while Hyundai and Kia faced declines.

Toyota Motor Corp. saw a notable surge in sales for the sixth consecutive month, buoyed by a substantial increase in hybrid deliveries. Total sales volume rose by 14% to 211,818 vehicles, with electrified vehicle sales soaring by 56% to reach 77,228 units. The Toyota division recorded a 15% increase in sales, while Lexus experienced a more modest 4.8% uptick.

Among Toyota's top-selling models, the Camry experienced a slight decline of 5.4%, while the Corolla and RAV4 posted impressive gains of 34% and 29%, respectively. However, the Prius and Tacoma witnessed declines of 33% and 26%, respectively. Toyota reported ending April with 217,080 vehicles in stock, representing a 26-day supply, indicating a healthy inventory level compared to the previous year.

In contrast, Honda Motor Co. reported a modest 0.4% increase in volume, with the Honda division recording a 3.2% rise in deliveries while Acura experienced a decline of 21% for the fourth consecutive month. Despite a slight decrease in inventory levels compared to the previous month, Honda brand inventories remained higher than those at the end of April 2023.

Hyundai and Kia faced challenges in April, with Hyundai's sales dropping by 3.1% to 68,603 vehicles and Kia's sales declining by 3.6% to 65,754 vehicles. However, both manufacturers saw increases in EV and hybrid deliveries, reflecting a growing trend in the market. Notably, Kia achieved a monthly EV sales record of 5,045 units, with the EV6 model experiencing a significant 65% increase in volume.

Subaru continued its upward trajectory with a 9.5% increase in deliveries, driven by strong demand for the Forester model, which saw an impressive 85% surge in volume. Genesis, after 17 consecutive monthly gains, experienced a 6% decline in sales, primarily due to lower GV70 volume.

Mazda reported a 3.8% decrease in sales for April following five consecutive months of growth.

Looking ahead, analysts project a slight decline of around 2% in U.S. light-vehicle sales for April, attributed to one less selling day compared to the previous year and weaker fleet shipments. Despite challenges such as elevated vehicle prices and high interest rates, consumer demand remains resilient, supporting continued growth in the market.