Japan's three biggest automakers said their November U.S. sales tumbled more than 30 percent as incentives failed to lure buyers to showrooms in the deepening recession.
Toyota Motor Corp.'s 34 percent plunge was its most since at least 1980, while Honda Motor Co. fell 32 percent and Nissan Motor Co. 42 percent. Combined sales for Asia-based brands, including Hyundai Motor Co. of South Korea, slid 35 percent.
"We've probably reached a point where no vehicle is immune from the ravages of the market," said Mike Robinet, an analyst at CSM Worldwide Inc. of the U.S. "The consumer is not in a very jovial mood when it comes to opening their pocketbooks."