Despite the government’s CARS Rebate program, the world’s number one automaker was unable to pull itself out of the gutter. Toyota’s July U.S. sales fell by 11.4 percent when compared to the same period last year. It sold a total of 156,355 cars and trucks for the month, compared to 175,242 in July 2008.

The Toyota Yaris and Corolla saw their sales drop by 36 percent and 14 percent, respectively, and did not receive much sales boost from the government’s cash for clunkers program. Camry sales were off by about 20 percent, while the new Venza is off to a slow start, selling 5,780 units. The Avalon is down to just under 2,000 units.

The Toyota RAV-4 was up 32.5 percent to 15,912 units. But the Highlander saw the biggest sales increase of 39 percent over the same period last year, selling 9,400 units compare. The Sienna minivan dropped 19%. Every other model was off by between 26 percent (Land Cruiser) and 75 percent (FJ Cruiser).

Lexus sales fell by 16.5 percent, selling 18,517 vehicles for the month versus 22,182 in July 2008. The ES and IS saw their sales drop by 21 and 15 percent, respectively. LS and GS sold a minuscule 874 and 551 units each. RX is up ten percent to 7,811 units, but GX (587) and LX (215) barely register on the sales chart.

Despite the decline, Toyota Division’s general manager, Bob Carter, said that the automaker sales increase incrementally by roughly 30,000 to 32,000 because of the Cash for clunkers program. He said that five models generated 80 percent of the sales as a result of the program, including the Camry, Corolla, Prius, RAV 4 and Tacoma. Prius sales increased by 30 percent to 19,173 units.

“In our view CARS has really served as a very tangible stimulus package,” Carter said. “This really confirms for us that there’s an appetite out there for fuel-efficient vehicles.”