Topic: Toyota #1 Worldwide in Q1

[rrocket]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070424/japan_toyota_gm.html?.v=22

On track to overtake GM....

[initial_D]

It is just a matter of time. One interesting article I read a while back regarding the number of vehicles sold, and how they were accounted for. Apparently one manufacturer was counting number of vehicles 'sold' to dealers as SOLD products. Not sure if there is some sort of guide line for counting the final numbers.

[Trainman]

Posted here too   

Toyota overtakes GM!

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/04/24/toyota.results.ap/index.html

Let's hope in sales only!!

[JSCC]

.....Apparently one manufacturer was counting number of vehicles 'sold' to dealers as SOLD products. Not sure if there is some sort of guide line for counting the final numbers.

I know that's how they count video game consoles.

[Ex-airbalancer]

I not very surprise.
Probably if you travell any place besides NA, you will see more Toyotas then GMs

[UmroAyyar]

It was bound to happen, not surprising. Lets see what the year-end numbers say. The new Corolla is supposed to be launched this year, the older one is still having a very good run.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The trend looked inevitable, but I was expecting it in Q3 or Q4... not Q1. Toyota is on a roll everywhere, and rightly so, although they likely wouldn't be my first choice in a lot of segments.

I think GM will be able to hold onto or potentially grow their sales with new vastly improved competitive, stylish products (really looking forward to the new Malibu - of all vehicles never thought I'd say that, along with others) and hopefully better direction from the top with more positive image, while globalizing more plus other ways to reign in costs.

One thing I wonder which maybe someone else can answer, is why Toyota is so big in Japan still? I know they have the traveling door-to-door salespeople, etc, but is there historically a definitive reason why they have (I believe) over half the domestic market? Also, interestingly, I think Japan would be ideal for a hybrid car (with them often stuck in intense traffic) but don't think they sell well there.

[Paul Allen]

The best part of that story is the fact that Toyota is also #1 in recalls.  Of course, all the Toyota fans will completely ignore that.

[UmroAyyar]

What happened Paul? 

[Snowman]

The best part of that story is the fact that Toyota is also #1 in recalls.  Of course, all the Toyota fans will completely ignore that.

 

[ovr50]

The best part of that story is the fact that Toyota is also #1 in recalls.  Of course, all the Toyota fans will completely ignore that.

Maybe you could provide a link to back up that claim?? 

Toyota has definitely had an increase in recalls, but #1 in recalls? Somehow I doubt it.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Good read...
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070425/AUTO01/704250428/1148

The employment chart is noteworthy. Nearly at par now.

[avtoller]

Sounds like a person with strong feeling of inferiority and insecurity - car related. 

[Snowman]

Toyota certainly deserves praise for achieving the goal of number one in global automotive sales with a high level of profitability. I just don’t feel warm and fuzzy and certainly not something to laugh at.

 It is unfortunate this has come at the expense of tens of thousands of high paying direct automotive jobs and many more in related supporting industries in North America. The continued erosion on the Domestic auto industry will have long term implications in North America. I can only hope two domestic automakers can dig themselves out to restore credibility and maintain a comfortable level of market share.

I believe GM and Ford have plans in place that will do this despite all the domestic bashing around here. This will take time and I will be the first to be cheering in the next few years when it happens.

[Mitlov]

Regarding Toyota's employment of North American workers as the Big Three lay off North American workers:

(1)  How do Toyota benefits (pension, health plans, etc) compare with those of the UAW Big Three workers, especially when the Toyota auto workers age and retire?

(2)  If they are as good as the UAW, how does Toyota seek to avoid the high benefits costs that some claim have doomed the Big Three?

These aren't leading questions: I don't know the answer.

[UmroAyyar]

GM and Ford are not going to collapse, they'll lose market share a bit more, but they're not sitting idle. Evidently, good product is coming out, big organizations, things take time to settle. I don't see this as a doomsday scenario.

Toyota is riding the high waves of its meticulous work of yesteryears and still continues to do so.
Toyota being No.1 will start getting most of the flak as GM used to, more in focus, negatives more visible. Maintaining its current standards would be quite difficult.

[Snowman]

Because Toyota is “new” to North American assembly plants there are no long term employee legacy issues. I don’t recall where I read this but from what I understand healthcare issues alone for the pensioners add +/-$1200 to the price of each car produced for the Domestic brands.

GM stated that if these issues are not resolved that in 3 years it will be less expensive for GM to build 10 hospitals and staff them up.

[avtoller]

I will be right behind you, Snowy, cheering if Ford and GM can turn their situations around AND consistently provide high quality, efficient, reliable cars. I have little use for any of their current offerings, however, and have been disgusted with their apparent "build crap - they will buy it anyway" attitude. IF any of the (Big?) 3 manufacturers can provide a competitive product in the segment I prefer, I will not look off-shore. BTW, a re-badged Daewoo will NEVER be on my list of possible purchases. 

[Paul Allen]

Sorry, I should have put in a link to where I read that.  Here you go.
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=99

[ovr50]

Oh, boy, here we go again - the TrueDelta guy who is in direct competition with Consumer's Report, who is not unbiased and even so, the linked story is only his OPINION. The TRUTH is not to be found with TrueDelta.

 

Having said that, I do hope the US makers can get their act back together and provide consumers with solid and dependable cars and trucks like they used to. NA does not need to lose more jobs.