Toyota cuts sales forecast almost 7%
Last September we told you of Volkswagen's plan to overtake Toyota in global sales by 2015. Some Autoblog staffers giggled at the prospect. That was before Toyota reported a 39% drop in profit and began writing down leases, and long before today's news of the Japanese automaker reducing its sales goal for 2009 by almost 7%. Instead of the 10.4 million vehicle sales it predicted for 2009, Toyota says it now may only sell 9.7 million. While 7% may not sound like a big reduction, consider that Toyota has seen steady growth since its founding in 1934, and any drop is a big deal. Last month, Toyota reported an 18% drop in sales from last July, while VW posted a 4% drop. If those sales rates continue, VW's goal of total domination should be much easier to attain.
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frank 11:22AM (8/28/2008)
Considering that VW is sitting at roughly 6 million units a year and Toyota is at 9.5 million units (and growing) it is very doubtfull VW will catch Toyota. Especially since VW is operating in the same tough environment as Toyota.
Also what does the price of commodities (which affects VW as well) have to do with unit sales? Or for thaat matter profits? And don't forget that even with a 39% drop in profit Toyota's profit was still much larger than VW's.
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Avinash machado 11:22AM (8/28/2008)
I guess GM will remain number one globally this year also.
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FT 11:38AM (8/28/2008)
How's GM going to remain #1 when their sales are lower than last year (world wide and in the US) while Toyota is growing them by 1% and Toyota is already 300K units ahead of GM? (this is with GM + Wuling sales)
Dude 12:58PM (8/28/2008)
Is this the thread where we can chastise Toyota for poor management decisions and say that the CEO needs to step down?
/sarcasm
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nagmashot 3:48AM (8/29/2008)
VW sale drop in the USA don´t hurt their gloabl increase of 6% in first half 2008...
USA is a not important market for VW.. their main markets are China Brazil Ruissia Europe..
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