Toyota poised to take #2 spot from Ford
Ford Motor Co. has admitted what we saw coming for some time. The New York Times just ran a story saying Ford has announced that they fully expect Toyota to take over as number two behind General Motors. At least in America. Perhaps not unexpected, but it still sounds weird to hear that Ford won't be #2. To put this in perspective, Ford has been number two since the 1920s! And if that's not enough, Ford says the projections show they think that third place might be their permanent new slot. Apparently The Way Forward means taking one step back, which if that's what it takes to return to profitability, then so be it. Back in September Ford speculated that its market share would hit a low of 14-15% allowing Toyota to surpass it. With the death of the Taurus and the decline in sales of light trucks, Ford has certainly been hurting. Conversely, it seems that Toyota can do no wrong with buyers, despite product that some consider boring and increased recalls with uncharacteristic lapses in quality. But things aren't looking any better for Ford. The new Tundra should be out in February, which will only increase Toyota's market share according to most analysts. Although we expect the Dodge Ram to be the truck that suffers most from the Tundra's arrival, eventually relinquishing it's No. 3 spot to the Japanese pickup over time.
[Source: Reuters via The New York Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sebastian 12:26PM (12/21/2006)
So the shifting of powers is changing...hopefully GM will remain number one here in the United States. I am not bias toward any particular brand at all, but I think its sad when the Big 2.5 has let Toyota, Honda, and Nissan steal their supremacy!
The sad thing is that Ford will probably never rebound to be what it used to be. Honda will be next to overtake the Chrysler group or has it already?
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Sebastian 12:27PM (12/21/2006)
I always figured that American Big 2.5 should maintain their supremacy here in the US, but its sad to see that changing.
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AndyF 12:28PM (12/21/2006)
I think this quote sums it up quite nicely,
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over [or, in this case, pushed to 3rd] if you just sit there."
-Will Rogers
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Ivan the Terrible 12:29PM (12/21/2006)
After losing HOME GAMES 32 years in a row to the Japanese,
the natural conclusion
GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH, Big 3!
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Lithous 12:38PM (12/21/2006)
Ivan, I have a present for you... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAsXLCkjRhI
But what game has GM lost for 32 years in a row? It isn't world sales numbers and it isn't U.S. sales numbers. It isn't even profits (at least for anything near 32 years). So what exactly are you refering to? You mean GM didn't sell as many death traps for the last 32 years and so they are a loser?
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Tim 12:44PM (12/21/2006)
Autoblog please remove the racist and cowardly statements by Aasdfpwn. I don't feel that this person should have a voice on the site using hateful remarks. Aasdfpwn you are a coward and if you really had something to say you would use your real name.
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John P. 12:46PM (12/21/2006)
Competition is good. Ford and GM have made crap for too long and I think they'll probably both turn it around if they can solve their remaining problems, (workers that cost way too much for what they do) The nice cars are beginning to be rolled out. Ford's main problem was milking successes for way too long. SUVs, F150, It's a shame what happened to the Taurus.
Give us what we want, when we want it, and we'll buy. At least the people with open minds will.
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Cap'n Jack 12:59PM (12/21/2006)
Why does it sound like Ford has just given up being no more then nice player here in the US?
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Tim 1:08PM (12/21/2006)
Aasdfpwn you are a coward if you were so brave you would use your real name. America is not communist nation nor is it fascist nation.
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Raymond 1:31PM (12/21/2006)
Aasdfpwn- What better prices? From most of the examples that I have looked at Toyota has been more expensive than Ford and even less choices. So whats your next excuse for being ignorant?
2006 Toyota Truck Tundra 4X4
SR5 Double Cab
MSRP $29,950
2007 Ford Truck F-150 SuperCab 4X4
163-in. WB XL Styleside
MSRP $26,615
2007 Toyota Camry
LE V6
MSRP $23,340
2007 Ford Five Hundred
SEL FWD
MSRP $22,980
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Ivan the Terrible 1:35PM (12/21/2006)
BUILD A CAR THAT IS SUPERIOR TO THE ACCORDS AND THE CIVICS IN EVERY WAY, YOU SPOILED, DRUNK, DRUG ADDICT, OBESE, LAZY (Jobs Bank anyone?) UAW (mob-infested LEadership in bed with the RETARDED, ARROGANT MORONS Big 3 CEOS)
and the ALMIGHTY CONSUMER will BUY THEM, and at LIST PRICE TOO, you will not have to slash $8k from an 07 model, you total failures!
Imagine if the US dollar was STRONG, how WORSE it would be for the onetime Big 3 and current BIGGEST LOSERS!
Imagine how many more cars and trucks the IMPORTS (and NOT just the Japanese, but the GERMANS, that have OBLITERATED the LUXURY MARKT that once was a monopoly of Caddy and Lincoln) and even the KOREANS for gawd's sakes, would sell, if they could sell them at the resulting much lower $ price!
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Mr_Oak 1:41PM (12/21/2006)
You folks seems to have lost sight of the fact that Toyota consumed by it's desire to challenge GM for the #1 spot, have been buying up a lot of crappy little car companies, just to increase their numbers. GM drops it Isuzu holdings, Toyota grabs them before they hit the ground. This obsession will land them in a lot of trouble in the future.
GM's spot at #1 is not yet in jeopardy though. Toyota and other Japanese companies are having a really tough time getting into the Chinese market. I guess the Chinese hold onto grudges much longer than we do.
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M3 1:43PM (12/21/2006)
Soon the Fords will be selling Ford stocks short or buying puts. Their is no hope for Ford. Go bless its sole.
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R 1:43PM (12/21/2006)
It is not entirely toyota's, honda's, nissan's, etc.'s fault that they are poised to takeover the US car industry. The Americans who buy their cars are also to blame because they support those companies.
Of course, if demand for toyota cars increases, that will mean more jobs Americans. Toyota has plants in the US.
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wayne cook 1:46PM (12/21/2006)
If people who blind to the facts, then let it be. Ford's problems are'nt with Toyota. They are with them selves. You can't keep making junk, and expect America to keep buying it. If they lose that #2 spot, it's because of product. Remember folks, they left our country, we did'nt leave them. Toyota keeps employing more Americans then all of the big three. Go big Red
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Ryan 1:48PM (12/21/2006)
It's funny, there is this article on msn.com right now about how ford has officially stated they expect Toyota to take the #2 spot in the USA permanently by 01/31/2007. A position Ford has held since the 1920's.
The auto industry is changing before our eyes, dramatically.
They even have a live vote on weather you prefer Jap or Merican'.
Right now, it's at 55% Japanese and 45% American preffered.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16311195/
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Richard Warren 1:49PM (12/21/2006)
projections
poised
It could happen, but remember Toyota has been predicting this based on assumtions, surveys, perhaps,projections and saying they would move to that position for 2years and never made it.
The saddest part is this: "projections show that company officers believe Ford will permanently fall to third place as soon as January."
Hey! Company officers, get creative, get off your ass, stop crying in your beer and say, "No fucking way is this going to happen." Just lay down, you deserve what you get.
Screw the "Way Forward" bullshit and the other corporate America bullshit sayings, it's about WINNING and holding the line at any cost at this point.
Get your head out of your ass and kick some ass!
For the Ivans, remember this, what goes around, comes around.
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Richard Warren 1:50PM (12/21/2006)
"projections show that company officers believe Ford will permanently fall to third place as soon as January."
A word to the "Company Officers"
Can your coporate bullshit slogans, like "Way Forward"
Stop crying in your beer
Stop making "projections"
Most importantly:
Get you head out of your ass, and kick some ass. This is about WINNING, for the moment it's not about profit, it's not about the stockholders, it's not even thinking about the competition, for the moment, screw um. The game at the moment is numbers, got that? Numbers, that's what they are playing on.
Man do you guys need to read the "Art of War"
So Bill Ford led you in the wrong direction, get over it.
Hell, people here talk about your quality, OK open the purse strings, take some hits over the long term,
150,000 drive train warranty
be really different, go a 100,000 miles on the WHOLE car to the original owner.
Yeah and screw the whiners here, slap some money on the hoods or even offer a guaranteed trade in price. Eat some crap in the long run, but don't just lay down and cut a deal to rental fleet. Get creative
The item in question at the moment is NUMBERS. Got that? NUMBERS!
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wayne cook 1:53PM (12/21/2006)
ivan you are right. Toyota does'nt slash prices, they hardly give incentives at all. But they still out sell the competion. You don't see them putting $6000.00 rebates on vehcles. They don't have to, they are making better products. And when The NEW TUNDRA comes out, they all better look out. It is going to be one kick ass truck
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Mr_Oak 2:05PM (12/21/2006)
Imagine how many more cars and trucks the IMPORTS (and NOT just the Japanese, but the GERMANS, that have OBLITERATED the LUXURY MARKT that once was a monopoly of Caddy and Lincoln) and even the KOREANS for gawd's sakes, would sell, if they could sell them at the resulting much lower $ price!
Ivan, you had better check your numbers. Cadillac alone is selling more cars than all German makes combined. The CTS from 2002 to now, has sold over 250,000 copies. I seriously doubt that the three best selling German models have combined for those numbers.
Ford is completely lost, can't help but feel bad for them.
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