Toyota Still No. 1 In Global Sales
Toyota remains the number one auto maker by volume, but the gap between it and its main rivals is closing quickly.
Just-Auto reports that Toyota sold over 7.4 million units between January and September, with the majority of the sales coming from the United States as other markets (China and Thailand) choose other offerings in lieu of a Hilux or Corolla. Pulling up just behind the leader are General Motors with 7.2 million units, and Volkswagen at just 7 million.
Aside from maintaining its lead, Toyota is set to pull in a record annual profit by the end of March 2014, whereupon an army of Hiluxes will deposit approximately $24.4 billion at their local bank branch drive-up, beating its own record back in 2008.
The cause? A weaker yen at home leading to huge profits in export markets such as the U.S. In fact, exports to America from the Land of the Rising Sun rose 9 percent compared to 2012 at this point in time.
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Expected, At the beginning of the year it was clear that unless huge happens - like tsunami earthquake in 2011 that Toyota is going to be No.1. After 9 months - global sales Toyota-7.41m GM - 7.25m VW - 7.18m - including MAN,Scania I think next year or in 2015 Toyota may loose it´s No.1 spot, because US market has it´s big growth behind, i mean now those growth YoY sales will be more modest than last yers when always at least 1 million bigger sales were in US. Japan, Thailand numbers will be about the same, Europe starst growing by few % very modest growth in next years, South America is also not expanding rapidly so the differnce will be China and VW, GM are there 3.5x so big like Toyota. So i expect in 2015 maybe the list goes as VW No.1, than GM 3rd Toyota - but a lot of things can happen, maybe ASEAN will grow much faster - Toyota as biggest player there will benefit most in total numbers. i think for 2013 it should end up something like Toyota-9.9m, GM 9.65m, VW 9.6m so if we assume China will play much bigger role maybe in 2015 i can see all 3 carmakers around 10.5m - 11m with VW being No.1 thanks to their position in China, rebounding Europe
Toyota has improved their cars quite a lot starting with the 2012 Camry. No wonder they're the sales king.
I really don't know why anyone would rate the size of a car company based on units sold. GM and VW, and to a lesser degree Toyota, build a LOT of vehicles in China BUT with a Chinese partner. Those sales should only count a half or a third in their totals. Why wouldn't gross sales be a better marker?
Toyota is a company with mass amount of cash. The recent 100+ million dollar recall/law suit fines paid in cash was nothing for them. The exchange rate between the Yen and Dollar, for one example, can add millions to Toyota's profit in a single day. Regardless, Toyota has the ability to pay its employees for many additional years even if they would close its doors.