Toyota sales rise as big vehicles soar

Toyota Motor's U.S. sales rose 4% in April, compared to a year earlier.

Edmunds.com had projected sales growth of 5%, and Kelley Blue Book had projected growth of 4%.

Average incentives per Toyota vehicle rose 14% to $2,017, according to TrueCar. That still trails the industry average of $3,021.

The Toyota brand sold 186,243 vehicles in April, up 5%. The Lexus luxury brand sold 24,882 vehicles, down 4%.

Growth was almost exclusively concentrated in crossovers, sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, which are hot because of low gasoline prices and customer preferences.

Toyota brand sales in those categories rose 13%, while Lexus brand sales in those categories rose 20%.

But Toyota brand cars fell 5%, while Lexus brand cars fell 26%.

Follow Paste BN reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.