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TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. became the world's top auto seller in the first three months of the year, passing rival General Motors Corp. for the first time, the Japanese automaker said Tuesday.
Toyota sold 2.348 million vehicles worldwide in the January-March quarter, company spokesman Satoshi Yamaguchi said, surpassing the 2.26 million vehicles that GM said it sold during the same period.
The results mark the first time Toyota has beat GM in global sales on a quarterly basis, he said.
While the figures represent only quarterly sales results, they foreshadow a tough challenge for GM as it fights to hold onto its title as world's top automaker — a claim usually staked on annual production figures.
This does not suprise me at all--it was bound to happen. While Toyota manufactures HIGH QUALITY vehicles that for the most part are fuel efficient, General Motors continues to produce JUNK. G.M. has been focused on selling low mileage SUVs--mainly because they are the ONLY vechicles they sell that yield a profit. Toyota will no doubt retain it's #1 ranking in the auto industry. KUDOs to Toyota!!!!
It was gonna happen sooner or later that a Japanese Car Company would take the lead.
I THINK , i dont have the numbers myself , if you do the numbers for all Japanese Car Makers they would leave the BIG 3 behind on total sales each month.
maybe this will push gm (and ford) to produce more fuel efficient vehicles, over 40mpg.
gm or ford, should come out with an affordable car that gets 50-70 mpg, call it the "green" , instead of a sun roof, put solar panels on top of the car, that converts energy into a battery(a battery/deisil) hybrid.
all the components in the vehicle, was produced with minimal enviro impact.
the automotive plant would be union-free, with productivity rewards for all workers (unions reward "seniority" not initiative, or productivity)
also the "green" car plant wold have solar panels,and any other envro friendly derived energy.
im in no way an enviromental whacko...but im seeing these prius's on the road,,and what does gm or ford have thats comparable??
and what happens when gas is 5-8 a gallon??? as a country, that may put us in a depression,,,(inflation gone wild)
Last week I was thrust into finding a new car since my son was in a head on collision. Getting beyond the shock and moving on, I had 2 vehicles in mind and a price I wanted to pay. I loved the new Camry design, the roomy interior, the handling, then reading all the added pluses about the Toyota it was hands down.
I am not surprised Toyota been given the high rankings.
We have had junk American cars shoved at us since the mid 70's but the 80's sticks in my mind. Poor fit and finish, noisy and unreliable drivetrains. I haven't even gotten to the life sucking sweetheart deals made between the Union and Management, crippling any hope of competing dollar for dollar with non union made Japanese and Korean car manufacturers. Year after year I've thought surly the Big Three see the turn of events and will come up swinging. Alas they continued with SUV production numbers for 2006 while gas climbed and everyone else started making smaller units.
I've always felt the BIG Three made it's share of eye candy but when attached to junk it just lost something in the translation.
What really did it for me was the fact that at 6'4" I found more foreign makes than domestic that I fit comfortably in. How in the H did that happen?!?!?!
I'm not counting the BIG Three out just yet though.....and neither are their stockholders.
This does not suprise me at all--it was bound to happen. While Toyota manufactures HIGH QUALITY vehicles that for the most part are fuel efficient, General Motors continues to produce JUNK. G.M. has been focused on selling low mileage SUVs--mainly because they are the ONLY vechicles they sell that yield a profit. Toyota will no doubt retain it's #1 ranking in the auto industry. KUDOs to Toyota!!!!
They dont focus on selling big SUVs with low mileage. Sure they sell alot of them, but thats not their fault now is it? In fact, GM has been downsizing alot of thier vehicles, with the emphasis of obtaining better gas mileage (mainly in their Pontiac and Saturn lines). They also have MANY vehicles that run on flex fuel, probably the most of any car company. ALL car manufacturers offer overweight, gas-guzzling SUVs (even Porsche!), GM is no different.
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New Toyota
Sure they sell alot of them, but thats not their fault now is it? 
In fact, GM has been downsizing alot of thier vehicles, with the emphasis of obtaining better gas mileage (mainly in their Pontiac and Saturn lines). They also have MANY vehicles that run on flex fuel, probably the most of any car company. ALL car manufacturers offer overweight, gas-guzzling SUVs (even Porsche!), GM is no different.
