http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/ Autoblog Comments for As yen sweetens, Toyota sales sour http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
It is really interesting to see how the microscope focuses on Toyota as the leader in global sales and how imperfect the seem to be. Toyota is obvisously a very well run company with great product and people but the scrutiny will only incease as they get bigger and more powerful.]]>Mar 20th 2008 4:27PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 4:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
GM is and has been #2 for a while now.]]>Mar 20th 2008 5:02PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 5:13PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
So the municpal government of Shangahi owns more than half of Wuling, completely seperate from GM China's 33% stake and Wulings' 15%.]]>Mar 20th 2008 5:29PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/Mar 20th 2008 6:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
Anyway, if they've controlling interest, you might want to reconsider if they can count them.]]>Mar 20th 2008 8:51PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/as-yen-sweetens-toyota-sales-sour/
From my understanding Ford does not count Mazda in North American sales even with close to a 40% stake in company. My rationale is GM shouldn't count Wuling if they own 33% and another company owns just over 50%.

For those still in denial it is a moot point since Toyota will still likely pass GM in worldwide this year no matter how you fudge the numbers.

The bottom line is who cares if Toyota is the largest? Look what the largest automaker has done over the past few years, lose money hand over fist. Its about being profitable first and then building your volume because any one of the major automakers (Honda, GM, Ford, etc.) could be number one in sales if they sacrificed profit. Hell, GM has been doing for years now!

I am not a Toyota "fanboy" but I am a fan of their business model and implementation. It is really interesting to look at and see why Toyota is so successful. I do wish however people would be more objective when it comes to their cars (cough,Consumer Reports!) and praise for their cars because statistically their is almost no difference from Toyota to a Honda to a Ford anymore.]]>Mar 20th 2008 10:21PM