Toyota global sales; 9.37 million vehicles for 2007

[andy82471]

Toyota in tight race for No. 1

Japanese automaker's global sales rise 6%, setting up a fierce fight with Detroit's GM for industry's top spot.

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January 10 2008: 5:24 AM EST





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TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota said Thursday that its global group sales rose 6 percent last year to 9.37 million vehicles, making for a tight race against General Motors, the world's biggest automaker.
GM (GM, Fortune 500) has not released its annual sales tally but earlier estimated 2007 sales would come to 9.3 million vehicles.
Toyota (TMC) has marked booming sales lately on the popularity of models reputed for good mileage, such as the Camry sedan and the Prius gas-electric hybrid, at a time when soaring gas prices have dramatically boosted their appeal.
Detroit-based General Motors Corp. has been fiercely fighting back, boosting its overseas business and could still keep the top industry spot, which it has held for 76 years.
But many analysts say its just a matter of time before Toyota beats GM to become the biggest automaker in global sales.
Toyota Motor Corp.'s group companies sold 7.1 million vehicles overseas last year, a 10 percent jump from the previous year, offsetting a 4 percent decline in sales in Japan at 2.26 million vehicles, the Japanese automaker said in a statement.
Toyota has long beaten GM in profitability, enriching its coffers with solid sales in recent years at a time when GM has been struggling, shuttering plants and slashing jobs.
Toyota executives consistently brush off questions about becoming No. 1.
Some company officials acknowledge they are even nervous about wresting the honors because of fears about a U.S. political backlash reminiscent of the "Japan-bashing" in the 1980s and 90s, when the nation was accused of taking jobs from American workers.
When asked recently by The Associated Press how he felt about becoming the world's biggest automaker, Shoichiro Toyoda, a member of the founding family and former Toyota president, even denied Toyota was becoming No. 1.
"We are not No. 1," he said, adding that the spot may be transient and hinting it may hold little meaning for an automaker.
"It's just one moment," he told The AP at a New Year's reception for auto manufacturers earlier this week. "We need to just keep working harder."
Such words may say more about Japanese cultural tendency toward self-effacement, and belie the aggressive and ambitious plan Toyota has chiseled over the years. Last month, it announced a target for sales of 9.85 million vehicles worldwide this year, up 5 percent from last year.
After the first nine months of last year, Toyota was - at 7.05 million vehicles sold worldwide - just trailing GM's sales of 7.06 million vehicles for the same period.
In the long run, the rivalry in the auto industry is shifting to new markets with enormous potential, including China, Russia, South America and other regions where a growing middle class is expected to snatch up cars.
And in China, GM is well ahead of Toyota in sales.
Established auto markets are likely to post slower growth, if not stagnate, amid worries about the subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. and the growing gap between the haves and have-nots in Japan.
Toyota is setting up new overseas plants to achieve growth in new markets - aiming to produce 9.95 million vehicles worldwide next year, up 5 percent from this year. Toyota executives last month also said they projected on-year better vehicle sales in the U.S. this year as well.
GM holds the industry record in annual global vehicle sales with 9.55 million vehicles it sold in 1978.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/10/news...ce=yahoo_quote

[jkennedy293]

It looks like Toyota is going to be the top automaker for 2007, unless GM predictions are low by 100,000 units.

[Saturn69]

Don't really care, they'll never get me in one. Take that Toyota! Resistance is NOT futile, Toycutus.

[Ambalanche]

It really is interesting how perception is reality. I drove by the newest Toyota dealer (17 acres)yesterday on my way home from work, and I honestly can't think of a non-bland Toyota that I would want to have, or one I like better than a chevy EXCEPT the Tacoma, I do believe it's better than the Colorado. Possibly the Avalon over the Impala but not price-wise. Toyota has Scion, but those are just Dihatsu's with a sombrero on the grille.(yes I know it doesn't really have the Toyota symbal on it) So I guess until GM get's the reputation they deserve for quality this will continue. People will buy an ugly car if they think it's a quality vehicle.

[andy82471]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

Don't really care, they'll never get me in one. Take that Toyota! Resistance is NOT futile, Toycutus.

Being the biggest doesn't necessarily means being the best. GM can be used as an example. A smaller more competitive GM will be better off in the long run even if it means giving up the "world's biggest title".

[andy82471]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

It really is interesting how perception is reality. I drove by the newest Toyota dealer (17 acres)yesterday on my way home from work, and I honestly can't think of a non-bland Toyota that I would want to have, or one I like better than a chevy EXCEPT the Tacoma, I do believe it's better than the Colorado. Possibly the Avalon over the Impala but not price-wise. Toyota has Scion, but those are just Dihatsu's with a sombrero on the grille.(yes I know it doesn't really have the Toyota symbal on it) So I guess until GM get's the reputation they deserve for quality this will continue. People will buy an ugly car if they think it's a quality vehicle.

The only Toyota i mean sorry Lexus that floats my boat is the IS350. If they offered that car with a manual I would buy one.

[slowinthefastlane]

I wonder how many of those 2007's are still left in the dealer channel? We may find out if this quarter and next quarter are slower than normal.

[ponchoman49]

It's interesting to note that in my area in Upstate, NY you can go to several Toyota dealers and still find rows of 07 Camrys, Turdras and Corollas but the GM dealers have but one leftover 07 and most have none. There must be a lot of gullible people out there in the big cities. Now Toyotas quality is slipping and there products usually finish last or below average in tests with competitors so there is little reason to buy one other than being uninformed.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by andy82471

Being the biggest doesn't necessarily means being the best. GM can be used as an example. A smaller more competitive GM will be better off in the long run even if it means giving up the "world's biggest title".

Exactly.

[skylark68]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

People will buy an ugly car if they think it's a quality vehicle.

That's true. Most of the people that are buying beige and white Camrys and Corollas and the like have the same mentality of those that bought 4 door beige and white Chevy Biscaynes and Plymouth Satellites back in the '60s. Appliance transporation that has the perception of being quality.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by andy82471

Being the biggest doesn't necessarily means being the best. GM can be used as an example. A smaller more competitive GM will be better off in the long run even if it means giving up the "world's biggest title".

GM losing the title doesn't necessarily mean it will be a better company, either, and I know you know that (and didn't directly suggest that). GM has already lost its number one status in the industry in several key areas, like profits (a while ago) and market cap (a while ago). It doesn't sound like that has served the company so well.

Pro-profit, pro-growth is the name of the game.

GM holds the industry record in annual global vehicle sales with 9.55 million vehicles it sold in 1978.

Interesting: GM is already smaller than it was 30 years ago.

[Joevette]

I hope they do become number 1, then they can hold all the responsibility. I find it amazing that Toyota can sell such boring crappy cars and people would buy that many of them. I mean at least at GM you have some sort of choice and options but Toyota is like a big bag a potatoes.

[Tony's BlkGTP]

Originally Posted by ponchoman49

It's interesting to note that in my area in Upstate, NY you can go to several Toyota dealers and still find rows of 07 Camrys, Turdras and Corollas but the GM dealers have but one leftover 07 and most have none. There must be a lot of gullible people out there in the big cities. Now Toyotas quality is slipping and there products usually finish last or below average in tests with competitors so there is little reason to buy one other than being uninformed.

This actually funny, because people that post on MSN auto section will swear up and down that only the domestic 07 vehicles sit on the lots rusting away while Toyota and Honda sell them all. Sorry, you couldn't give me an absolutely free Toyota product. I think everything they make is a piece of crap, IMO. I say let them have the number sales title, however once they get it, I hope they crash and burn in a major way.

[GMsElite]

Doesn't Toyota sale cars in every market GM is in, but GM doesn't sale cars in every market Toyota is present in (namely Japan)??? I thought I read that somewhere and I just wanted to make sure that was true. So if someone can correct me if I'm wrong, that would be helpful. Thanks

[ColinOpseth]

Originally Posted by GMsElite

Doesn't Toyota sale cars in every market GM is in, but GM doesn't sale cars in every market Toyota is present in (namely Japan)??? I thought I read that somewhere and I just wanted to make sure that was true. So if someone can correct me if I'm wrong, that would be helpful. Thanks

You're correct, sort of. Japan has a closed market which means that GM can't open dealerships there. But, the caveat is that GM sells cars under other brands, name Suzuki and Isuzu. I'd be interested to see what GM cars are sold as Toyota, though. Remember the Toyota Cavalier?

Another interesting thought. Domestic cars imported to Japan are VERY popular. Look at the third generation Camaro movement. Wow. Also, the Chevrolet Astro.