toyota is now #1
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Milton, FL
toyota is now #1
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1
GM loses to Toyota as top global automaker
Jan 21 09:01 AM US/Eastern
General Motors fell behind Toyota as the world's largest automaker, selling 8.35 million vehicles globally last year compared to the Japanese giant's 8.97 million, sales figures showed Wednesday.
Jan 21 09:01 AM US/Eastern
General Motors fell behind Toyota as the world's largest automaker, selling 8.35 million vehicles globally last year compared to the Japanese giant's 8.97 million, sales figures showed Wednesday.
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From: Van Nuys, Ca.
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Too many people still think that "american made" = cheap, unreliable POS. But as most of us know that is hardly the case today compared to 15 years ago. And too many people go out and buy anything consumer reports tells them to buy without doing their own real world comparing and test drives.
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From: The Golden State
Too many people still think that "american made" = cheap, unreliable POS. But as most of us know that is hardly the case today compared to 15 years ago. And too many people go out and buy anything consumer reports tells them to buy without doing their own real world comparing and test drives.
...you can say that when a car company walks away from investing in, say...cars... in favor of focusing on the very narrow (and extremely venerable) large truck & SUV market, allowing import based car makers to fill the void.... it's pointless to blame the consumer.
To be honest, I flatly no longer buy the idea that poor American companies are the victim of evil imports.
* The Chrysler 300 was a succesful AMERICAN car.
* Ford's Mustang never missed a beat.
* The current Malibu is GM's 1st car in years that can compete with similar Toyota sedan.
* Corvette has been at the forefront of global performance cars since the 1980s.
* Cadillac's CTS broke through the barrier on RWD sedans handling, and that was cranked up dramatically (and at even lower cost) with the Zeta.
Ford now beats Toyota in quality ratings. Buick has been near the top of all brands sold in the US for as long as I can remember. Thing is people know this already.
Chevrolet has faced roughly a mere 4% drop in car sales. Ford's less than 8.
US automakers KNOW how to make good cars... they've been doing it for years already. The problem is judgement & commitment. Having a broadbased model lineup with investments to match to keep them competitive. Compare that to putting money only in the cash cows that when fuel prices spike upward sales crash and risks taking the company with it.
GM only recently decided to reverse it's decision not to sell the Orlando here after decining not to (because there was nothing else like it here), which was decided after the thing was created obviously with the US market in mind.
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The shuffle of "Big 3" will probably change a couple of times as the economy rebuilds. Some might change seats, some might walk away from the game completely (hope it's not GM). I think most manufacturers will emerge with new strategy and outlook on the automotive market as a whole 
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Does this instance, specifically, represent a new shift in thinking for the "new" GM? A slow shift....but it shows (to me, at least) that they are thinking. (Same for the Spark)
