That is right folks, for the first time in a long time, Toyota is NOT the king of the mountain. GM sold more cars than Toyota, world wide, last quarter and then just yesterday announced better than expected earnings. Ford also announced better earnings than analysts had predicted, but they don’t sell the volume of cars that GM and Toyota are playing with. In 2008 Toyota surpassed GM as the World’s Largest Automaker, and has held onto that title since, with the exception of 2011 when Toyota and all of Japan recovered from the Tsunami. Until that point, GM has basked in 77 years of glory as the largest.
Toyota is currently in a decline, and is quickly being caught by GM, who is only 60,000 cars behind Toyota in sales for 2013. Could this be GM’s year? We hope so. It’s time for a U.S. Automaker to take the lead again and is a testament to the complete revamp of GM brands and models over the past two years. In fact, GM’s offerings now make them the automaker with the newest product lineup, rather than the oldest which they had just a few years ago.
According to Bloomberg.com, GM reports that their only 10,000 units ahead of Toyota this past quarter, but when the total margin is 60,000 we’d say that’s okay.
Is GM’s new glory due to newer, cooler, cars? Or is it due to better quality than they have had in the past? Some combination? We’re not sure that anyone will be able to give one definitive reason, but I can tell you that the quality level in cars has evened out across the board. I’m not saying that there aren’t cars out there that are nicer or have a better fit and finish, but overall the fit and finish and durability of new cars has improved. I think this means that customers around the world no longer have to look to Japan for a quality affordable car. In fact, you want to know who’s 3rd on the list of car manufacturers? Volkswagen, that’s who.
America, Japan, Germany. Hmmmmmm. Historically speaking that sorta makes sense now doesn’t it.
Congratulations GM. You deserve it.
Sorry, but GM doesn’t deserve it, they deserve to be completely broken up and sold off to financially solvent companies. If it wasn’t for corporate welfare GM and Chrysler (how many times now?) would have gotten what they deserve.The American taxpayer is still over $18 billion dollars in the hole over this fiasco, where profits are privatized and losses are socialized.
The only thing keeping GM sales moving is the $3000 in food stamps given with each purchase.
GM may sell as many cars – but in the last 50 years, how many quarterly financial reports showed a profit WITHOUT restructuring, writing down, etc.? Imagine what Toyota could do if Japan turned over the tax dollars of its hardworking citizens.
Toyota would probably be doing just what they’re doing now, seeing as Japan already does give their automakers tax dollars…
http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2012/08/21/japanese-automaker-subsidy-end/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577242461777082458.html
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/69120/herbert-m-bratter/government-subsidies-in-japan
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/business/AJ201302010053
Not true check your facts
Hmmmmmm. I agree they didn’t do things right. But if we were to say tomorrow that they should close up shop then what happens with all that debt? I would think that anyone who is against GM still existing would be really happy that they are doing well so they can pay off any remaining debt after the Feds sell the last of their GM stock. GM has the cash in the bank to do just that, so when the feds are done selling their stuff and come up short I’m sure they’ll make arrangements. No doing so would be a bad PR move, and not likely for the “new” GM.
Also keep in mind that Ford currently has somewhere around $70 Billion dollars of debt to figure out how to pay. GM has less than $60 Billion and that’s including all the creditors they were unable to pay before going to bankruptcy. American car companies are in a world of debt, just like most Americans, so any increase in sales and profits should be considered a good thing.
Ford’s debt is not currently on the backs of the American taxpayer. Also, these so-called American cars are usually anything but American, but I suppose we can call anything built, supplied, sourced from any nation in North or South America an American product.
A purchase of a GM or Chrysler product is a tacit approval of corporate welfare, where hard working, taxpaying Americans are forced to underwrite the greed, poor management, and outright foolishness of legions of blue and white collar minions of these utterly decayed and decadent “capitalist businesses”. The entitlement mentality of the rich and over-payed is truly despicable.
GM and Chrysler are pitiful examples and symptoms of how far this nation has fallen, and shame on those who support it.
Ford Motor Company got loans totaling 5.9 billion dollars to build electric cars that are indeed on the backs of taxpayers. They have NOT paid that back. Thumb down all you want, but it’s easily checked.
sorry buddy, ford took tarp funds, and grants, just because they are not loans, they are still taxpayer money..
wow people are blind
Those who think this a childish case of “Ford is better than Chevy” needs to dig deep and search for some principles. ANY company that takes government handouts is despicable–Ford included. Of course these companies are slightly less despicable than the damned politicians who force-fed the American taxpayers this excrement sandwich.
This is a matter of principle, something that seems to be forgotten and lost by so many.
Wow, once again, the lack of principles exhibited by so many demonstrates how far this withering nation and its people have fallen.
Ford’s debt – a “them” problem
GM’s debt – a “you, me and every other sucker who pays taxes” problem
Debt seems to be a big part of this discussion, so I’ll say this to the wealthiest of us and those who have least, DON’T SPEND MONEY YOU DON’T HAVE ON THINGS YOU DON’T NEED! As it is paying retail for something I want pisses me off, but the mentality of someone to spend more than sticker price for money just perplexes me. But, near as I can tell, “most Americans” base our decision making of popular belief, not facts which are oftentimes not nearly as much fun. And that line of reasoning is reflected in every industry, the auto maker’s just get a lot of attention because of how large the numbers are and how passionate people get about them. I think that, and let’s get really off topic here, if we as a society could focus more on needs than luxuries, we would not be having this conversation.
Also, when GM can best ToMoCo in the U.S. Patent game, then I’ll get confident.
http://jalopnik.com/why-toyota-is-still-the-largest-automaker-in-the-world-754063173
Here at BangShift Midwest we have done our part. A Chevy Cruze gives us the great gas mileage that lets us go on all the great road trips. So far the quality control and general fit and finish exceed the GM products I owned before it was Government Motors. I like my Cruze better than the 2007 Impala I traded in.
As someone who would never buy a new vehicle, let me offer this perspective. Having just recycled my ’95 G30 in favor of a ’97 C2500, I do not look forward to trying to buy and maintain $1700 junkers 15 years from now.
Japanese automakers do use tax dollars. Once upon a time there were lots of medium duty American trucks. The Japanese manufacturers wanted all the cabover sales, which is what they use in Japan. So the government subsidized every single truck produced, allowing the to be sold at a loss. The American makers couldn’t compete, and they went away. Now if you want a medium duty cabover, you’re getting an Isuzu, or Mitubishi Fuso, or Iveco. Don’t think for one second they haven’t done that with everything else made there.
the heck with the cars . look at that ship! Now thats impressive.
I know!!! I want one of those too.
GM will never get any more of my truck dollars!!!!! Two sets of brakes + calipers and ALL brake lines, instrument cluster, drivers side window controls+ wire harness and the list goes on and on. GM still uses CHEAP parts from CHEAPER suppliers. My 03 Sierra gets nothing but Mobile 1 and at 76,000 mi should not have these problems.
You’re not in the north or along the coast are you? Salt eat anything standing still, and autos are designed and engineered for one thing and one thing only, to be used. Odds are your low miles played a pretty big part in the issues you’ve had. I work with a guy who a few years ago let is nearly new S10 sit for a few months…yeah that was a few grand at the repair shop and the truck has never been right since in my opinion.
john, right you are. I had a 99 Malibu that I took excellent care of and was easily the worst car I ever owned, and that includes dozens of beaters. My point is I find my 2012 Cruze to be a great car. Much better than the 07 Impala I had before, or my daughters 09 Cobalt maintained by me. In my opinion, they are much better now.
I was on one of those ships once. It had been converted to a sheep carrier though. I had to walk through every deck inspecting for weapons being shipped to Iraq. 80,000 sheep, the smell was … memorable.
Being sore about $18 Billion we are out to GM over four years, when the Fed is basically creating almost $3 Billion per DAY out of nothing and driving the global value of our currency down is a LOT like being upset about the color of the T-shirt of the guy that just robbed you.
I wasn’t happy about the mechanics of how the GM thing happened either, but damn. Way to see the small picture.
As of yesterday they still us (taxpayers) 19 billion dollars. Shouldn’t be a problem paying it back correct?
Screw GM.
another country heard from.. let me guess you think ford did take government(taxpayers)
money.
difference is g.m. has to pay the money back
the money ford took they never have to pay back..
puff puff pass
I’d feel better about G.M. is it didn’t give everything, and I mean EVERYTHING they had learned in all these years to the Chinese so they would be the big hitter there.
I think the world is run by people who are unaccountable to us.
They can afford to be unaccountable!
Lets not forget the unions aren’t cutting the US auto manufacturers any breaks. It’s amazing how much of a disparity it is between US plant workers building cars for GM, Ford, Toyota, etc. The last I checked it was right around ~$15k. No wonder GM is moving to Mexico. I wish they could say to hell with UAW which would decrease their operating costs substantially. As far as hating on the bailout. US companies aren’t the only ones who have been bailed out by the government before. Just think of the fallout if that were to happen. I suppose you’d rather pay unemployment than give a company a little push. I love that people think Ford didn’t take any money. Just keep believing.
The ‘success’ at GM is due to the $110 Billion dollar bailout on the backs of the US Taxpayer — what could Toyota have done with a $110 Billion dollar gift to invest? http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/05/18/what-gm-bailout-really-cost-american-taxpayers/
I only drive cars and trucks manufactured by General Motors.