Ford #2 In The US. Toyota #2 In The World?

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Unless a major disaster happens, (such as a falling sky, or a combined blood, fish, frog, and snake rain) Ford will retake the #2 slot from Toyota this year in the U.S. The DetN came to this conclusion after studying the year to date market share of both. In his monthly sales call, Ford’s analyst George Pipas said that Ford has increased its domestic sales at nearly twice the market’s growth rate. Ford’s market share stands at 16.4 percent at the moment, up from 15.3 percent last year. And Toyota?

Toyota’s market share in the U.S. has taken a hit that sent it down to 15.2 percent, says the DetN. Toyota will have to clear the #2 spot on the podium. ( Automotive News [sub] sees an even bigger gap.) #1 will be GM with 19.3 percent.

The 2010 World Championship will remain interesting until two major carmakers issue their annual reports, possibly even until OICA publishes the official 2010 numbers.

Volkswagen will end the year with slightly over 7 million units worldwide, which will keep it in the #3 position. We see combined Toyota sales at least a million ahead, let’s call that 8.5 million.

All eyes on GM. In China alone, GM will have sold more than 2.3 million cars by year’s end.

Now it all depends how the rest of the numbers pan out and will be massaged. GM tells its investors that “General Motors dealers reported 168,704 total sales in November, a 21-percent increase from the prior year for the company’s four brands.”

As far as I know, GM has made no global forecast for 2010, but Toyota could end of finding itself in the #2 position when all the numbers are in.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • NormSV650 NormSV650 on Dec 21, 2010

    Ford's succeess could be the result of planning and timing, or luck as GM name still carries Gov Motors and the negativity we seen toward gov in 2010 mid term elections. Surprised Toyota's cash on the hood didn't do more. Can we say the Toyota bubble has deflated or are three no end to the trickling of Toyota recalls?

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    • Safe as milk Safe as milk on Dec 21, 2010

      even here in nyc, where many drivers would rather be caught dead then driving something 'merican, ford is gaining traction. the fusion is ubiquitous and the flex & edge are considered stylish... and the fiesta rocks.

  • Moneyandwheels Moneyandwheels on Dec 21, 2010

    I love reading these articles that are positive for Ford, now I am partially biased as I do own Ford stock and have since $8.25, however I do believe that they've done a phenominal job even though luck had a little bit to do with it. Their conquest rate has improved dramatically from previous years and this has a bit to do with avoiding bailouts, but more to do with their outstanding product line.

  • Zackman Zackman on Dec 21, 2010

    @dwford: I suppose you can add Packard, Hudson, Nash, Kaiser and any other once good carmaker to that list, too. Everything has a life cycle, like it or not. Either that, or the current automakers like GM, Ford & Nissan have reached a sort of parity in the quality department in that Toyota and Honda no longer shine quite as brightly as they once did.

  • I_godzuki I_godzuki on Dec 21, 2010

    If GM can include Wuling sales (34% stake to SAIC's 50%)+, should Toyota add Subaru sales as it is an affiliate oo (albeit with only a 16% stake)?

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    • Norma Norma on Dec 21, 2010

      Of course there's no contract, in Subaru's case. Correct me if I'm wrong, Toyota bought the shares of Subaru (or Fuji Heavy Ind.) from GM. Fuji Heavy Ind. is listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange, Wuling is a private company where a shareholders' agreement can be drawn amongst its shareholders.

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