speedflex

Toyota reclaims title of world's largest carmaker

General Motors, which regained the largely symbolic title of world's largest automaker in 2011, slipped back into the second slot for the first quarter of 2012.

Toyota sold 2.49 million vehicles globally in the first three months, edging GM's 2.28 million total and Volkswagen's 2.16 million, Bloomberg News reported.

Toyota's three-year stretch as the world's largest automaker ended in 2011, when the company endured production setbacks in the aftermath of the devastating Japan earthquake and tsunami. But the Japanese automaker, which posted a 15.8% increase in U.S. unit sales during the first quarter, has restored its manufacturing capacity and sales are surging.

GM, which posted a $1-billion profit during the first quarter, faces pressure from Toyota and Volkswagen, which is weathering the European recession better than its competitors.

But GM spokesman Jim Cain said one quarter was "an awfully short window of time when you have such a big vision" for global growth.

"GM today is a profitable, growing company, and our plan is to grow more and earn more," Cain said in an e-mail. "We've got the ingredients to do both over time, especially with our aggressive new product launch calendar and the momentum Chevrolet, in particular, is building around the world."

In 2011, GM sold 9.03 million vehicles, Volkswagen sold 8.16 million and Toyota sold about 7.9 million.

http://www.freep.com/article/2012051...rgest-carmaker

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

great bounce back toyota. and with an improving product line, likely to get even better.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

a good demonstration that quality is the key and goes a long way

mordecai

Toyoda, paraphased: "I don't aim for Toyota to be #1 in sales, but to be the best cars."

And I will quote Car and Driver in their comparison of the LFA and Ferrari 599 way back in 2010:

Your efforts in aiming for quality over quantity has -- surprise! --resulted in the quantity you very much deserve. Congratulations!

jadu

iTrader: (42)

impressive sales. and awesome pic-toyota gundam?!?

marshall2j

Not just quality, but also the more aggressive design IMO

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

that picture is pure awesome!

speedflex

Made it myself.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

mad skillz

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

well, quality plus less dull/cheap-looking design.

zactly.

spwolf

so you like Prii's, Camry's and Yaris? Cool.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

sure, but that's not what i said/wrote

less dull and less cheap looking is different than like. but they definitely seem to be going in the right direction based on all new model evidence (fr-s, avalon, es, gs, for example).

spwolf

:-))))

I mentioned it because thats whats selling for them and what got the back to top..: FR-S, Avalon, ES, didnt start sales yet :-).

Within 12 months we will certainly see all new Corolla, Rav4, Avalon and that will bump the sales up even more as they are significant models world wide (Corolla and Rav4 account for 15-20% of overall Toyota sales, worldwide).