Here we go again: Toyota sells more cars worldwide in first half than GM
The seesaw battle between GM and Toyota for the title of world's largest automaker is still being waged, and after tallying up global sales for the first half of the year, Toyota has opened up a pretty big lead. The Japanese automaker totaled 4.82m units told, with GM trailing with sales of 4.54m cars and trucks. While Toyota's sales are impressive, they're still off the pace of the 9.85m units the automaker expects to sell throughout 2008. The US and Japan have been the source of Toyota's pain this year, as both markets are in a downturn. In spite of record sales in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, GM had a 3% sales decline in the first half of the year. The entire problem rests solely with the General's performance at home, where sales are down a staggering 16% for the year. The news isn't expected to get much better in the States, as last month was the worst June in 17 years, and sales don't look any more promising in July.
While both GM and Toyota have been shrugging off talk of global sales battles, we're inclined to believe selling the most vehicles on the planet is important to both automakers. And since GM has held the sales lead for 77 years, the Detroit automaker won't feel good if it loses its title. Down nearly 300k units through June, though, it'd almost take a miracle for the General to come out on top in 2008.
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bill jackman 1:28PM (7/23/2008)
Is that King Kong Bundy as GM?
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inteller 1:53PM (7/23/2008)
I thought that was Andre the Giant down on his knees.
bill jackman 1:59PM (7/23/2008)
Oh, no -- it's Bundy in a cage match!
http://www.allauthentic.com/images/products/HH-KKB-16A1171151306.jpg
Wow-ed 2:30AM (7/24/2008)
WTF? Thsi guy ^^^^^^^^^ has his sh*t on lock. Translation: Damn son!
FroOchie 9:56PM (8/07/2008)
I think it is Bundy but the General should be represented as George "The Animal" Steel instead. Over the next couple of years the turn buckle is going to be ripped up over Toyota's over inflated head while the General wags its big green tounge in the enjoyment of their turn around.
baffledu2 1:30PM (7/23/2008)
would have been much bigger news 10 years ago but fair is fair Toyota is ahead. Might have been nice if it was on an uptick rather than the scenario where Toyota is just not as far off for the year as GM
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baffledu2 1:38PM (7/23/2008)
Also interesting to see the rise in quality problems from Toyota as they have approached the size of G.M.
Torrent 1:31PM (7/23/2008)
That's funny you used Hulk Hogan as Toyota, because didn't his son crash his Toyota Supra?
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azzo45 2:06PM (7/23/2008)
OUCH! That's harsh (but true)!!!
s13hybrid 2:10PM (7/23/2008)
Yes, and basically killed his friend. And now is in jail for like 6 months for street racing against a viper (which was when he wrecked). If I remember correctly.
I believe hulk has had a couple of supras.
MachinaDC5 2:16PM (7/23/2008)
Well played, Torrent.
mike 1:31PM (7/23/2008)
And are we supposed to be shocked?
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azzo45 1:56PM (7/23/2008)
Agreed... which one has an estimated 43 BILLION in the bank again???
CORVETTE ZR1 1:32PM (7/23/2008)
The 2010 Camaro Will Fix this problum Toyota Dose not have anything to compete with that... GM will be back on Top in no time...
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Shiftright 1:38PM (7/23/2008)
As nice as the new Camaro is, it won't be a volume seller. Toyota doesn't have anything to compete with it because they know it's not what the majority of the market is demanding. Regardless, everyone is overly fixated on cold raw numbers; The most sales, horsepower, fastest 'Ring time. GM is in trouble, but these numbers don't mean all that much. 20 years ago GM was selling more than Toyota selling crap cars that were not nearly as competitive with Toyotaas they are today. GM has actually been making a lot of decent to great cars, but unfortunately, they've been making the wrong kinds. I'm sure they will recover eventually, and hopefully learn from another beat down to think long term and anticipate market demands like the Japanese. You think they would have learned that lesson by now.
Torrent 1:41PM (7/23/2008)
Especially with the Volt Coming out. Same as the Silverado Hybrid.
KeatMP 1:55PM (7/23/2008)
Ya, I agree. I don't think they will hold on to the title for more than a year or so. I think GM will take it right back.
2007RC46SP2 2:03PM (7/23/2008)
the volt isnt gonna be a volume seller at first, and the silverado is probably gonna be $35-40k w 15mpg combined.
those aren't gonna help that much.
they need to improve and expand their small car lineup.
azzo45 2:03PM (7/23/2008)
God, I hope ZR1 is goofin' (???)
The Camaro is not intended to be a high volume car & cars with 26MPG (hwy) are not screaming off dealer lots. I'm sure its launch will be a sell out (& GM need that).
The Volt is to launch with 10,000 units to be followed by 70,000 units the following year.
Hardly ammo to beat Toyota... & they shouldn't have to beat Toyota. Get their company to meet sales goals reflective of their market share. Make GM profitable... a pi$$ing match with Toyota proves nothing.
Allan 2:17PM (7/23/2008)
Last I checked Toyota doesn't give two craps about a Camaro. And close to the point, they will have the RWD Toyobaru coming out in a year or two that if it doesn't look like a monkey's balls will be a hot seller.
And the Silverado and the Volt? That's just silly. Trucks are not selling right now... a Hybrid will help that, but not enough to ballast everything else from tanking. The Volt? That propping their sales is almost laughable. It will be a good product if they can get it to market, but to think it will sell enough to bring up the rest of their market is again, laughable.
What they need is the Cruze and the Beat at the very least to be high volume sales. Of course they're not smart enough to sell the Beat in the US... so there you go.