Toyota March Sales Program a Hit, Purchase Intent Soars 40 Percent

Still struggling with the aftermath of the hugest recall it has ever made, as well as with reports claiming the fix for the accelerator doesn't work, Japanese carmaker Toyota got a breath of fresh air following the launch of the company's most comprehensive sales program in its history.

According to Edmunds, the interest raised by Toyota's offering made for a 40 percent increase in purchase intent. While in the beginning of the month the Japanese carmaker was found appealing by 9.7 percent of those looking for a car on Edmunds, on March 1 Toyota reached 13 percent, while on March 2 reached a 14-months high value of 18 percent.

The sales push set in motion by Toyota include the following offerings:

• 0 percent APR financing for up to 60 months on 2010 Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Tundra and Yaris, for qualifying buyers.
• low lease rates on 2010 Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, Prius, RAV4, Tundra and Venza, for qualifying buyers. Examples include a Corolla lease for $179 a month and a Camry lease for $199 a month, although offers may vary regionally.
• complimentary two-year premium maintenance program for customers who purchase or lease a new vehicle and provide proof of a Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicle already registered in household, with applicable conditions.

"We launched this program to expand the focus on our customers, and thank them for their loyalty by adding value to our products," Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of Toyota Division said when the program was launched.