Filed under: GM, Toyota, Earnings/Financials
They're #1: In first quarter, Toyota tops GM as world's top auto seller
With the first quarter of 2007 in the books, Toyota has emerged as the world's top auto seller -- for the time being, at least. The Japanese giant beat GM on the global level for the first time ever, selling 2.348 million cars to the General's 2.26 million. This story is far from over, however, as we fully expect the next three quarters to turn in to a full-fledged slugfest between the two automakers.Toyota will continue to do what it's been doing and GM's global product renaissance will likewise continue to see more new and/or improved vehicles enter the marketplace around the world. Stay tuned.
For now, though, Round 1 goes to Toyota. Round 2 is just underway.
[Source: AP]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
jeffinToronto 8:19AM (4/24/2007)
Wow...now there's a surprise (to be said sarcastically). GM better get its Daewoo operation churning because the next assault on GM will be the Koreans, followed by the Chinese. Great to be a consumer, not great if you have a lot of GM stock.
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Carl 8:24AM (4/24/2007)
The race should be for Saab's pinkslip... winner takes all! (Knowing Toymotor will win and do great things with the beleaguered Swedish brand)
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ANdy 8:27AM (4/24/2007)
I thought Toyota forecasted to be ahead in 2008?
In any case, this is going to be a very exiting fight. If Toyota want to remain at #1, their best bet would be to increase their North American share whereas for GM increasing their international sales would help them regain the number one slot, if you ask me. As the article mentions, GM's new cars will definitely help.
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Mark_GTS 8:56AM (4/24/2007)
Let's all pay respect to GM's final days...
Toyota, it's about time!!! Welcome to the winners circle!
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bmoredlj 9:10AM (4/24/2007)
I'm sure it's humbling for GM to be topped, but it needs to dust itself off and keep grinding. Threats of halting the development of exciting new products that might attract new buyers are hardly productive, as are the periodic exhibitions of pipe-dream electric cars and the like that GM has no intention of producing in any kind of numbers.
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mavkato 9:18AM (4/24/2007)
TEh end is near!!1 gM is going down teh tubez!!one!
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EnviroBob 9:23AM (4/24/2007)
With a difference of 90,000 units world-wide, how much of that amount is due to the shift in fleet sales- GM getting out and Toyota expanding its fleet sales to get bigger numbers at the cost of profit.
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Drewboy 9:25AM (4/24/2007)
This is good for GM, actually. In fighting to regain/keep the #1 spot, they will undoubtedly be trying to improve their product quality and all. They've already got much better exterior design than any Toyota could ever hope to have. The exteriors of most Toyotas make me want to puke.
To the naysayers - since when does becoming the #2 automaker in the world spell doom?
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rainking 9:28AM (4/24/2007)
Who cares? GM should concentrate on making money by building great cars and trucks instead of worrying about market share/who's No. 1.
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Bonita 9:28AM (4/24/2007)
GM has been 'King of the Hill' for 75 years and has been scared to death about this inevitable.
Toyota's claim all along is that they didn't want to be the biggest . . . but simply the best.
Congrats, Toyota. Now this is MOVING FORWARD. (P.S.: Fix that ugly mug on the Camry and see how many more you sell!)
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Stéphane Dumas 9:33AM (4/24/2007)
the next question is how long Toyota will stay in top with Hyundai sales rising worldwide and GM as #7 and #8 mentionned will improve the quality and to rely less on fleet sales. (if I was a Toyota director, I should be more worry in the long-term for Toyota bigger presence in fleet market)
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The Doctor 9:47AM (4/24/2007)
"We try harder"
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rwdmtparkingonly 9:48AM (4/24/2007)
Congrats Toyota, you are now the number one commodity box maker until Hyundai and the Chinese catch up.
GM - there is a fork in the road - do you try to chase Toyota as a commodity box maker despite your higher costs or do you focus on making enthusiast cars that people will pay a premium for?
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mdeforest 9:55AM (4/24/2007)
Toyota won round 1? In Q1 2007? Are you serious? Toyota and GM have simultaneously been sellng cars for how long? I can guarantee you its been more than a single quarter (or round)!
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Silver 10:09AM (4/24/2007)
"They've already got much better exterior design than any Toyota could ever hope to have." - Drewboy
Yeah, because the Malibu is a REAL LOOKER when parked next to a Camry. Please.
I think you need a new eyeglass prescription...
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Chet 10:26AM (4/24/2007)
This is good news. I hope Toyota remains number one. GM could do without being The Evil Empire on its road to recovery. It's about time Toyota's business practices fell under the same scrutiny that GM has endured for decades.
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The Other Bob 10:31AM (4/24/2007)
"...not great if you have a lot of GM stock."
I bought GM stock this year and it has done quite well for me.
Now that Toyota is the biggest, maybe they can now be the boogieman.
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Dan Roth 10:33AM (4/24/2007)
Actually, the new Malibu is way better looking than the Joe Camel nose on the Camry. And it doesn't sit strangely on its wheels the way a Camry does.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-chevy-malibu-1/
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Alex Nunez 10:53AM (4/24/2007)
I have to agree with Dan on the 2008 Malibu. It's really a great-looking car, with a good mix of powertrain choices and a sharp-looking interior. They're going to sell a lot of them.
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Silver 11:04AM (4/24/2007)
"Actually, the new Malibu is way better looking than the Joe Camel nose on the Camry."
So a Silverado face on a car is better than what the Camry offers? Taste is subjective, and a personal thing, but I'm willing to bet 90%+ of consumers would choose the Camry as the more attractive auto.
"They're going to sell a lot of them."
To rental fleets. I can't imagine it will be the consumer's choice over Camry/Accord/Altima. GM is going to have to do better than this to get back into the game.
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