Gm: Not So Fast, Toyota

[notacarguy]

A global sales surge keeps us ahead, Wagoner reports


January 7, 2006

BY TOM WALSH
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

They may want to hold off on the party hats at Toyota Motor Corp.

General Motors Corp. Chairman Rick Wagoner said Friday that GM sold nearly 9.2 million cars and trucks worldwide in 2005, the most since 1978, casting doubt on forecasts that Toyota Motor Corp. might surpass GM as the world's automotive sales leader this year.

For the first time in its history, GM sold more cars outside the United States than inside. Not only did GM emerge as the market leader in fast-growing China, it also posted all-time sales highs in Latin America and Europe. The result was a 2% increase in global vehicle sales, despite a 4.3% drop in U.S. sales.

Toyota, the world's No. 2 automaker, sold 8.1 million vehicles last year and recently projected that it will build 9.06 million cars and trucks in 2006, leading to widespread speculation that it would blow past GM this year. Until the final 2005 numbers were tallied, it had been 27 years since GM sold 9 million vehicles in a year.

But GM's strong growth overseas suggests that Toyota can't count on being fitted for the crown just yet.

"We had a good sales year on balance around the world," Wagoner said in an interview with a small group of journalists. "Chevy is the big dog," he added, noting that Chevrolet sales surpassed 4 million units last year, up 180,000 units over 2004, "so that brand strategy is feeling pretty good."

Most recent headlines about GM have focused on its abysmal financial performance in North America, its weak credit rating and sagging stock price. But Michael Robinet, vice president of global forecasting services for CSM Worldwide Inc., said GM deserves some credit for its gains abroad. "I do think they've done a good job in South America, they've cleaned up some of their European issues and done a decent job in Asia," he said.

GM boosted sales 35% to 665,390 vehicles in China last year, surpassing Volkswagen AG to become the top-selling automaker in the world's fastest-growing auto market.

While pleasantly surprised at some of the final sales tallies from abroad, Wagoner acknowledged that he still faces the daunting task of turning around GM's car and truck operations in North America, where the company lost $4.8 billion during the first nine months of 2005.

Bankruptcy? No way

Continued at: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2005601070322

[give_it_all_]

I like that article! So Toyota isn't necesarily gonna be the world's largest automaker this year

[56 Starchief]

um. i hate wagoner-go to hell.

aside from that, yea maybe well barely pull ahead before the guillotine drops.

[grayhorse]

Originally Posted by give_it_all_

I like that article! So Toyota isn't necesarily gonna be the world's largest automaker this year

I think so, because most of GM's business abroad are growing.

[Maas Oyama]

either way what difference does it make?

[dindak]

Everyone seems to be rooting for Toyota for some reason.

GM is doing great everywhere except in the US. If they can fix the US, Toyota is not going to get to #1 anytime soon.

[tosil]

CAMARO!!!!! is all I got to say.....

[FireFox89]

not to be whatever but heres a sign of hope; threads on gm's gloom and how toyota will become the no.1 automaker on gmi:157

threads that read "wait a minute toyota don't open those wine bottles just yet gm's still got fight inside it's belly":1

note:Im just being sarcastic,dunno how may threads are about gms gloom...i dont have the time nor energy to count...

[SSrevolution]

I think this should shut up any more people saying GM is going bankrupt.

[kool_zx3]

GM is selling cars, for little to no profit. Toyota may sell less cars, atleast toyota is making some money off of them.

[NemesiSupra]

.... who cares about selling more when you sell for less, make money is whats important! $$$$$/profit is more important then being #1.

Will GM ever comprehand this!!

[ghughes]

who the f%%K - cares- Gm market capitalization - $10 billion - toyos - $180 billion - not only is wags crazy he is delusional - this is the most craptacular ceo ever!!!

[SweetHemi1]

Originally Posted by kool_zx3

GM is selling cars, for little to no profit. Toyota may sell less cars, atleast toyota is making some money off of them.

Exactly. It does not matter how many cars they are making if they are going bankrupt.

[chevySSfreak88]

i believe that GM can beat toyota. latley, all the buzz has been about american cars. saturn sky, pontiac solstice, solstice GXP, CAMARO, hhr, cobalt ss....etc. if u ask me, toyotas line up is looking very boring. once the new camaro comes, gm will be selling them like crazy. WAY TO GO GM!!!

[ZvetteGuy]

Originally Posted by NemesiSupra

.... who cares about selling more when you sell for less, make money is whats important! $$$$$/profit is more important then being #1.

Will GM ever comprehand this!!

And this probably comes from someone who will gloat when/if Toyota outsells GM in overall sales... hope that I'm wrong NemesiSupra... Hope that I'm wrong...