Toyota overtakes GM as top auto maker

[slvrvibes]

Article from cnn.com:Toyota overtakes GM as top world auto makerJapanese manufacturer beats out Detroit auto giant by 90,000 cars in the first quarter; market watchers expect company to beat GM for the year too.April 24 2007: 5:50 AM EDTTOKYO (Reuters) -- Toyota beat GM in quarterly sales for the first time ever, outselling its U.S. rival by around 90,000 units in the first quarter, making it the world's largest auto maker.Both auto giants reported record sales for January-March, but Japan's top carmaker inched past Detroit-based GM (Charts, Fortune 500) as it ate into the struggling icon's market share on its home turf.Toyota (Charts), maker of the Camry sedan -- the United States' most popular car -- said on Tuesday its global vehicle sales rose 9 percent in the quarter to 2.35 million units.That compared with 2.26 million units, up 3 percent, for GM, which sells cars and trucks under a dozen brands including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Opel and Saab.GM said last week that put its global market share at an estimated 13.0 percent, down a tenth of a percentage point from a year ago.GM's subprime woes Toyota's tally includes cars sold under the Lexus luxury brand and the youth-oriented Scion brand, as well as vehicles from Japanese unit Daihatsu and truck maker Hino Motors.Many industry watchers expect Toyota to challenge the 99-year-old GM this year for the top spot in global sales, a position the U.S. automaker has held for 76 years.Toyota dwarfs its rivals in almost every other measure including profits, market capitalization and cash reserves. http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/2...n=yes

[Vibr8tr]

Well, we have a toyota car, made by GM.... so wear do we stand in this battlehttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267980,00.html

[GrayFox]

We sit! ...while we drive our beloved Pontiacs! honestly I don't know... neither one is going to out-right win anytime soon so there's plenty of time to decide

[Vibr8tr]

Thank you Mods, I didn't know we already had a thread started I guess I will sit here and love my Vibe then

[4azdmunky]

About time! Everyone has known since the 70's that Toyota was a company to watch. Their cars (generally) run longer on original equipment, keep their value longer, have better gas mileage, and better warranties. GM has been too arrogant for too long. Maybe now they pull their heads out, get their act together and re-instate Detroit.Ford gets it, they are now offering better gas mileage cars, better warranties etc.Its sad, even my 170HP Cooper S gets better gas mileage than my vibe, and comes with a better warranty. That is just too sad!

[micbarric]

Quote, originally posted by Vibr8tr »Well, we have a toyota car, made by GM.... so wear do we stand in this battleVibe is a GM vehicle just like the Daewoo/Korean built Chevy Aveo. Doesn't matter who or where it is built as long as it's a GM brand. Notice what Toyota says at the bottom of this link:http://www.toyota.com/about/op....html ..."Vibe not counted in Toyota production totals"

[zionzr2]

i knew this day would come soon, just not quite this soon. Maybe now GM will wake up

[PopeyeFAFL]

Let me tell you a little true story.About 10 or 15 years ago, the CEO of the big three (GM-Ford-Chrylser) were going in Japan, with the help of former US President (George Bush, father) to put pressure on Japan in order to buy more American made cars.One Evening News commentator was asking Chrysler president, why did the Jeep sold in Japan, was still having the left-handed colum strerring? (instead of right hand, since they drove on the other side of street, like in UK).So the big CEO (a guy making zillion of $ to have a vision, to think further than mere mortal) said:Due the the small volume of sale, it was not cost effective, but if sale increase (without doing anything to help it), then he might consider it.The commentator, told him, that it sound like: BUY ENOUGH OF THE WRONG PRODUCT, AND WE MIGHT EVENTUALLY GIVE YOU THE GOOD ONE !!!!At the same time, compagnies like Renault, Mercedes, Volvo (not Ford at the time), etc. were selling tehir cars with the right-handed streering (and no-one had to tell them, it was obvious for them).So, GM, Ford & Chrysler have only themselves to blame.American Company could have good idea, from time to time (case in point, the Vibe), but they want results quick, they don't want to establish themselves for the long haul.

[4azdmunky]

Quote, originally posted by PopeyeFAFL »(and no-one had to tell them, it was obvious for them).So, GM, Ford & Chrysler have only themselves to blame. Amen to that! Can I get a witness?! They take a vary similar approach to American customers too.

[Vibr8tr]

I guess it just boils down to making money. I am sure the CEO's of all the companies, have enough money that they don't care. Thier goal is to pocket as much as they can before they retire. So when they get a paper that says it will cost "x" amount to install all these new steering columns, and the ones they have cost nothing and work... well... they say "Give me the money it would cost to make those, and keep making them how we are doing it".... and then give themselves a bonus for making such a great choice.Same with the company I work for. Us worker bees, who are what keep the coustomers happy we get paid next to nothing.... but the lowest paid CEO of our company is making over $3.5 Million, not including the bonuses he got this year. I know they do work hard, and make decisions.... but where is the respect for the little guys? lol