If things go as planned, which includes selling 9.34 million vehicles next year, it will be Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) and not beleaguered General Motors (GM).
According to this NYTimes.com article, Toyota reported a total of 8.8 million cars and trucks sold this year, which was below G.M.'s 2006 sales forecast of 9.2 vehicles. The future holds anticipated increases in sales, by at least half a million, for Toyota while troubled G.M. is shutting down plants and laying off workers.
Toyota started in the 1930's by reverse-engineering G.M. and Ford (F) vehicles and if they indeed were to surpass G.M.'s 81-year reign over the global auto industry it would be a feather in their cap as well a step in the rise of Asian carmakers.
Some concerns Toyota would need to address so they don't fall into the same decline that G.M. is experiencing is to not grow complacent, not let quality contril slip amid its rapid expansion, to handle the idea that they will be a fatter target for critics, something that companies in number one positions always face, and handling the U.S. market with sensitivity and caution due to our American pri
de and politics.
I own a Toyota Camry and I can say at this point I am a fan and my next purchase will be a Toyota too. I have owned several cars over my lifetime and I would have to say hands down I have been the most pleased with my Toyota.
The article goes on to state that Toyota’s emergence as No. 1 would also realign the global auto industry. The Japanese car company would become the new industry benchmark, say analysts, and one that would be tough to match. While G.M.’s strength in recent years has been its finance arm, Toyota’s success is grounded in its formidable manufacturing prowess. As the world’s most profitable carmaker, it also has the cash to invest heavily in new technologies and products, analysts said.
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