Toyota passes Ford, DaimlerChrysler in U.S. sales
Stepping back from July's detailed sales data for a moment, at the big picture level it's worth noting that July marked the first time that Toyota sold more cars in the U.S. than Ford. Furthermore, year to date sales figures show that Toyota has outsold DaimlerChrysler (Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz combined) in the U.S. market.Trying to draw attention away from his firm's growing presence in the U.S. market, Toyota Motor North America senior VP Dennis Cuneo said "It's not Toyota's intention to overtake any particular manufacturer," going on to echo Ford's Mark Fields (president, Americas) saying, "The U.S. market is really becoming the Big Six rather than the Big Three. You're going to have six substantial players here: GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Honda and Nissan, and maybe Hyundai as well..."
Might as well just go ahead and call it the Big Seven - Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary both posted record sales in July.
[Source: Bloomberg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
All World Automotive 8:43AM (8/02/2006)
Detroit is in major trouble. The tides in the US have changed dramatically. Going to be very hard to stop this freight train. Detroit has no pride in what it does anymore. The boys at the top only care about the current back poket they have themselves.
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DarkKnight67 9:14AM (8/02/2006)
And with the number of recalls issued since May, they've surpassed GM at number one. Way to go!
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ron 9:14AM (8/02/2006)
I read in this morning paper that Honda production can't keep up with demand for small cars. Turned on the tv and I see Ford's 'American Idol' commercial telling me I NEED one of their SUVs! Not a mention of the Focus - guess they've written it off as a non-entity.
I think both Ford and GM's advertising depts live in a non-existant dream world. After all, seeing people leap off of bridges onto a moving GM car transporter just MAKES me want to go out a buy whatever the dealer has laying around today. In their dreams, Magoo!
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whatever 10:03AM (8/02/2006)
I'm sure the import-humpers will just be rubbing this one in....still, you couldn't pay me enough to ever own a Toyota! Toyota=ARROGANT SOBs
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Paul 10:08AM (8/02/2006)
thankfully americans are finally moving their support in large numbers to Toyota and Honda. the us auto industry has no reason to exist. Toyota and Honda and Hyndai are proof that cars are made better and cheaper in Asia. The education, culture, and cost structure dont exist here anymore to support heavy manufacturing. American products are neither cheap nor quality.
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Support America 10:13AM (8/02/2006)
Gee Paul, how long have you been taking up the butt from the Asians?
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Karl 10:15AM (8/02/2006)
This doesn't surprise me one bit.
Hey Detroit, how about bringing some American workers back into the product. My POS Canadian car is falling a part at the seams!
At least buying a Toyota, most of them are built right here in the good old US of A.
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Number Six 10:25AM (8/02/2006)
Wow, my prediction about GM going bust (kind of like hitting the iceburg, a la Titanic) last September are coming true. Plus Ford is finding out that offending a large population base is doing them no good. Chrysler is simply finding out that foisting Neons on the unsuspecting public and then relying upon large vehciles doesn't work so well in a land where suddenly, gas prices are some 50% more than last year.
We will end up like the British. No locally owned auto manufacturers.
Or, in the worldwide market, is that even a true statement, since any of us can buy stock in Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia any time we wish.
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ap 10:31AM (8/02/2006)
@Paul
Your argument about American manufacturing fails because some Japanese cars are now considered American because most of the car is assembled here, like the Camry. Even the Sonata is being built here.
But I guess I can't be surprised by your bias comment as every post you wrote on this blog is anti-American.
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Puff Chippy 10:36AM (8/02/2006)
There's no denying that Toyota is the McDonalds of car builders. You want bland and inoffensive? You want to appeal to the lowest common denominator? Try this Camry on for size. Oh wait, you want style and excitement? Sorry, we don't serve that here.
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Paul 10:36AM (8/02/2006)
ap
the japanese assemble cars here only under the strick supervision of Jananese engineers.
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Mike A. 10:48AM (8/02/2006)
I have to agree with Paul. I'm driving a Pontiac G6 right now as a rental while my Civic is in the body shop for hail damage. This thing has less than 7,000 miles on it and rattles like a twenty year old car. The cupholders are in an awkward place. You can't rest your arm on the top of the door with the window rolled down because of the door lock plunger. According to the built in mileage indicator I'm getting 23.9 miles per gallon. My 2002 Civic LX with manual transmission could pull this car and not get 23.9 MPG - in fact, last month I got just under 45 MPG on a mostly highway trip. The G6 is heavy, its engine is raucous and unrefined and it corners only somewhat better than an oil tanker in a storm at sea. It even smells bad. I know I'm used to a smaller car, but come on. I ride sometimes in a friend's 2005 Accord, which is the G6s competition, and it is beautifully laid out, has crisp handling, has better mileage and better resale value.
GM is getting what it deserves, plain and simple. They will be making toaster ovens out of the scrap from that G6 long before I think about trading my Civic.
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Ryan 10:54AM (8/02/2006)
"Toyota=ARROGANT SOBs"
Toyota= Camry, Corolloa, Matrix, Prius, Highlander, Tundra, etc.
"6. Gee Paul, how long have you been taking up the butt from the Asians?"
-Better than taking it up the butt at a repair shop over and over and over and over. I have to tell you I have had NO LUCK with American cars. Save a couple of Ford Escorts that you could not kill, so yes a couple but the rest were shit.
I beg you guys to tell me how a COBALT IS TRULY BETTER THAN A CIVIC?
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Ryan 10:56AM (8/02/2006)
"10. There's no denying that Toyota is the McDonalds of car builders. You want bland and inoffensive? You want to appeal to the lowest common denominator? Try this Camry on for size. Oh wait, you want style and excitement? Sorry, we don't serve that here.
Posted at 10:36AM on Aug 2nd 2006 by Puff Chippy 0 stars"
-And what? If you want an Impala your going for sex appeal?! LOL!!!!!
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Ryan 11:01AM (8/02/2006)
#12
Dude, I have to say I have had two (2) G6 rental cars, and you are correct they rattle to death!!! One had such a high pitch constant "squeel" on the freeway it sounded like a tire was literally going to fall off, enough so to make me drive it slower. That was a coupe, I drove the (4) door and have to admit the outside looks nice, if not a little like a 1994 grand am, but it rattled and was slow. The engine sounds like it's the same ol GM engines they use. In other words the G6 is hardly "all new"
The thing that I love about my country USA and the citizens:
For the most part we will call "bullshit" on our own product and purchase elsewhere if we think it's shit. And you have to love Americans for that, because if it was not for the Americans purchasing elsewhere the US automakers would have no motivation to do shit and we all know that.
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Shawn 11:02AM (8/02/2006)
45 mpg in a 2002 Civic? ...On "Mostly" hwy driving?
Does it have a flux capacitor as well? Was it hard to rig up the fishing pole to catch the lightning?
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Ryan 11:04AM (8/02/2006)
"16. 45 mpg in a 2002 Civic? ...On "Mostly" hwy driving?"
-Well I can personally 2nd the 45mpg statment my best friend owns a Civic and he gets about 42mpg on mostly highway driving.
-Please you guys tell me what US compact car, MADE IN THE USA is better than a Civic?
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Shawn 11:13AM (8/02/2006)
Ryan, I didn't say any US car is better than a Civic. My g/f had 2 civics in the past 5 years, and we drove the new one from NJ to TX & then from TX to CA. No way 45 mpg.
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Tri-Bob 11:17AM (8/02/2006)
All the bickering aside with yesterdays numbers, Chevy is down 17%, Toyota is up 17% and still sells ~29,000 less vehicles. So, it appears there are still a great deal of people buying from the General, it is not going to go away anytime soon.
And, I love the comparisons of apples to oranges. Of course an automatic G6 is not going to do better than a manual Civic, use your head. My manual Ion gets me 32 in mostly city, I might not get 45 on the highway, but I bet it would be 38-42 mpg.
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Ryan 11:18AM (8/02/2006)
"18. Ryan, I didn't say any US car is better than a Civic. My g/f had 2 civics in the past 5 years, and we drove the new one from NJ to TX & then from TX to CA. No way 45 mpg.
Posted at 11:13AM on Aug 2nd 2006 by Shawn 0 stars"
-Do you and her have a lead foot?! My friends civic is a 2003 DX base as shit it has A/C and a spoiler. I'm not sure, but I can honestly say it does get 42mpg I have driven from PHX to LAS many times with him and the numbers are there. Didn't Honda have the Civic "HX" or something like that in the late 90's that was also rated over 40mpg.
But seriously (and not directed towards you)
What USA Car company has a USA built compact car that is better than a Honda Civic, to be fair is HAS to also be built in the USA...
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