Toyota Sales Beat Analyst Estimates as Kia Leads Asia Brands’ U.S. Gains

Toyota Motor Corp.’s December sales gain beat analysts’ estimates and Kia Motors Corp. had the biggest increase among Asia-based brands, capping the U.S. auto industry’s best year since 2008.

Sales rose 0.4 percent from a year earlier for Toyota, compared with the average 1 percent drop of five estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Deliveries increased 43 percent for Kia, 13 percent for affiliate Hyundai Motor Co. and 7.7 percent for Nissan Motor Co., according to statements yesterday. Honda Motor Co. reported a 19 percent drop, citing tight inventory.

Industrywide sales gained an estimated 8.7 percent as consumer confidence reached an eight-month high in December, and carmakers aired holiday ads and continued promotions begun in November. Kia’s December surge in the U.S. gave the Seoul-based company a 36 percent full-year increase, the largest for a major automaker.

“Kia has even more potential this year,” said Rebecca Lindland, a Norwalk, Connecticut-based analyst for IHS Automotive. “Our forecast is for them to be up 23 percent. Hyundai will be up by double digits again in 2012, but right now everything new from Kia is selling really well.”