Filed under: GM, Honda, Earnings/Financials
UPDATE: GM sold more in 2007 than Toyota
by John Neff on Jan 23rd 2008 at 12:56PM 
As we reported earlier today, Toyota is not expected to reveal the actual number of vehicles it sold in 2007 until later this month, but a source has told Reuters that the number should be about 9.366 million units worldwide. GM announced earlier today that it sold 9,369,524 vehicles around the world last year, which official makes it the world's best-selling automaker for the 77nd year in a row, though by the slimmest of margins.
We reiterate that owning this title makes little difference to either automaker. GM is in the midst of a turnaround in the U.S. market with sales in its own backyard still yet to rebound while Toyota is gaining marketshare in most regions around the world. Their global sales numbers are bound to cross paths at some point putting Toyota on top, and most analysts expect that to happen in 2008. Even if Toyota does pass GM in global sales for 2008, however, we don't expect it will be able to keep the title for very long before the General snaps it back. GM has a stronger presence in China and is doing very well in emerging markets, while Europeans seem to have taken a liking to the Chevy brand over there. If GM can get its U.S. sales back up, we expect it will remain the world's largest automaker.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MemphisNET 1:04PM (1/23/2008)
Gentlemen, shake hands - keep it clean.
FIGHT
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REALITY_CHECK 10:12PM (1/23/2008)
"but a source has told Reuters that the number should be about 9.366 million units worldwide"
Listen to yourself "A SOURCE", How dare you Autoblog? Talk about serious auto journalists... when it couldn't be more obvious that you guys are biased?
It's just a source, Who are you? Do you have the authority to make it a post? To make it official?
You guys still don't know the real number, How can you make such affirmation?
GM fan-boys: Chevy was my favorite Brand too, but guess what they keep focusing on sales (fleets) and forgot how to make a great car... since the historic 1993 Camry, that showed superiority, value, and just a great car overall, i've switched
AlexP 11:46PM (1/23/2008)
Hey guess what - they're not actually journalists.
rooster 10:30AM (1/28/2008)
source...quoting a source is quite common in journalism. Qualifying the statement with the "source" modifier indicates that veracity has not been confirmed, but that someone in a position to have such information has made a statement.
Now, your ricer fan boi attitude is another thing. The 1993 Camry is historic only in the fact that it's old. Head in the sand "Toyota is great" attitudes like yours are just as simplistic as the "GM is God" attitudes of others. Honestly assess each new vehicle, and move from there. GM has made significant strides, and Toyota is slipping under the strain of a further differentiated product mix. It is pretty even now, and the sales numbers reflect that parity. Now, let's see what each offers next, and to the better company goes the win.
Ford Tang 1:09PM (1/23/2008)
Amazing, 77nd!
Congratulations on the 77nd year!
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S 11:01PM (1/23/2008)
bahahaha
Richard Warren 1:16PM (1/23/2008)
"most analysts expect that to happen in 2008"
Said the same in 2006, 2007. Instead of Anal izing, why not just wait for the figures.
"We reiterate that owning this title makes little difference to either automaker." Wanna bet? Bragging rights never hurt sales.
Two years ago all you heard here was doom and gloom regarding GM, I've said it before, I'll say it again, don't count GM out.
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psarhjinian 1:16PM (1/23/2008)
I really, really want to make a cheap joke about the 2000 presidential election.
But I won't.
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rar 1:31PM (1/23/2008)
Please, go ahead!
Rocketboy 3:49PM (1/23/2008)
Go ahead, but unless it's actually fact based, then don't.
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/when_the_votes_were_recounted_in_florida.html
psarhjinian 4:12PM (1/23/2008)
@rockeyboy.
Wow. No sense of humour when it comes to your precious ideology, huh. Do you twitch when people refer to GWB as "The English Patient"?
BocaJeff 1:21PM (1/23/2008)
Does anyone know a good site that breaks down monthly sales by individual make and model?
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500 2:31PM (1/23/2008)
Is this a joke? You're on it.
Ed 1:52PM (1/23/2008)
77nd?
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christina 2:09PM (1/23/2008)
77th!
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Seminole 2:15PM (1/23/2008)
Congrats GM. Congrats to Toyota as well.
If everything goes right, then later this year GM may be up one more sale and there will be a shiny new CTS in my driveway.
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C.W. 4:43PM (1/23/2008)
you are going on hypothetical "leaked" info here... final numbers will be out at the end of the month. dont think for one second toyota doesnt have 3,000 global sales it can claim for '07 to win this title... it happens every single day in the u.s... dealers will report January sales as February to inflate numbers for various contests, marketing spins, and to make bad months look better to their dealer buddy's up the street. toyota now knows where to aim before it reports final sales...
roar 2:49PM (1/23/2008)
Can GM sell cars in Japan? Can anyone but Japanese companies? Toyota sold 1.5 million in Japan last year. If the "protected" markets were taken out what would the numbers be. Is the playing field level?
roar
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Takeo 8:47PM (1/23/2008)
Actually my last trip I saw quite a few American cars, including (gasp) a cavalier.
icu812ru469 3:19PM (1/23/2008)
Out of the U.S. big 3, GM is in the healthiest state (global position and financial leverage) to be able to make a big comeback and if the CTS is any indication, they'll do fine in the next five years...
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