After 77 years GM no longer No1
January 22, 2009 by David Twomey
With a 10.8 per cent downturn in worldwide sales last year General Motors has had to admit that after 77 years it can no longer claim to be the world’s largest car maker.
In an admission that will gladden some and bring despondency to others the huge US car maker said its worldwide sales fell to 8.36 million units in 2008, putting it about 616,000 units behind the 8.97 million units reported yesterday by Toyota Motor Corporation.
The 2008 results cap an advance by Toyota that has seen the Japanese car maker overcome a three million-unit deficit since the start of the decade, fuelled in large part by gains in the United States.
Last year, both companies posted sales declines, including huge ones in the US market.
GM spokesman, John McDonald, said that in future GM would describe itself as “one of the world’s largest automakers.”
GM Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said that retaining the title wasn’t “terribly important,” to him. He said that it was more critical that GM, which hasn’t posted a profit since 2004 and has tapped US$4 billion in government loans to pay its bills, was strong financially.
Toyota said its sales across the group fell four per cent in 2008, dragged down by sharp declines in North America, Europe and Japan.
Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, said the title means little to him, especially in a year that saw both companies losing sales.
GM fell 21.1 per cent in North America, the biggest of its four sales regions, and 6.5 per cent in its number two market, Europe.
The company gained 3.2 per cent in its Latin America, Africa, Middle East region, for a fifth straight record, and 2.7 per cent in the Asia-Pacific territory, which includes Australia.
Print it: 
hahaha yeah Jason….there gone !
he he he maybe I should get to know the product I have been selling for the last month whilst doing holiday stand ins. :-)
So what is Toyota’s are crap and Gm’s cars are great if the company is out of business you cant buy them. Steam powered cars used to be popular once.
Does anyone know how the workers at Rio Tinto are going???
Does anyone know how the workers at Rio Tinto are going???
Why do u ask?
Jason P – just goes to show how little you understand, Toyota build thier own NASCAR engines and are not sourced from Ford, GM or Dodge as you incorrectly stated.
Toyota was indeed banned for 12 months in WRC for the incorrect use of a turbo but they also rightfully (and legally) won a total of 3 Titles.
How many times has Ford, Dodge and GM been caught cheating in NASCAR … countless.
Infact, GM and Ford even rallied to have Toyota’s HP restricted last year because they were unable to compete against Toyota. Thier losing behaviour no differently displayed towards Nissan and the GTR in Australia many years ago.
As for the Australian Rally Championship, it has infact increased in the amount of manufactuers which now includes Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Ford, Subaru, VW and on the cards – Mazda. That’s quite a few more then the ordinary 2 in the V8SC.
Toyota make many desireable platfroms themselves including SUV’s and 4×4’s while i believe Lexus is ranked amoung the most respected in the world.
‘IS’ series a good car especailly the IS-F. Wish Lexus Australia imported the IS350 aswell.
Before i conclude, don’t get upset because i corrected you on a number of matters. Just accept it the way it is. Some of your comments were bluntant wrong and quite frankly – shallow
ps. Toyota continues to fund it own way in motorsport unlike GM who now shouldn’t be allowed while sustained by someon elses purse
Conclude …..why ?
Come on J.J.T we all want to know what you drive……..a Sportivo Camry and a 4 cylinder wide bodied one as well ?
Starting to sound like Dingo to me guys……..If it is Im guessing he will be banned PRETTY SOON ………AGAIN!
J.J.T.,
Just finished reading a road test where the M3 flogged the IS-F; horses for courses.
What Toyota cast iron V8 block do they use in the rear wheel drive NASCARS? Can you tell me what model it’s from?
It was my impression that toyota merely throws dollars at a few NASCAR teams, who build their own cars.
At least a V8 Supercar uses an engine somewhat close to what you can buy in the road models. nd they use the same driving wheels. Whether they win or not, I can’t see what toyota is in NASCAR for. There’s nothing that translates to their road cars.
Lexus is so keen to copy the Germans styling, they even copied the “bustle back” from recent Beemers. Only thing uglier than the previous 7 series BMW, is the latest Lexus copy.
Imitation is the most sincere form of flatery, just don’t present it as your own idea. Lexus shamelessly copy BMW & M-Benz. I’m sure they build great cars; I just don’t aspire to having one, the same as I do a Beemer or Merc. And let’s face it, they’re (slightly) cheaper to buy, so more chace of me owning one, if I found them appealing.
As I said, you seem a little worked up, mate.
:-)
I’m not upset. Which were the shallow comments?
:-)
Easy to be profitable when u use the same Camry platform for just about every model including the high profit luxury brand Lexus.
Quote [Duck] : But another downside is that the Zeta platform that underpins the VE Commodore has been axed by GM too!
The Aussie Designed Zeta Platform on which the VE is built and has a lot of global potential hasn’t been AXED… its just that due to the current economic climate GM have decided to put any future plans relating to RWD projects ON ICE for the time being..
Holden will continue to build Commodores on the Zeta Platform for at least the next 10 years…. remmeber the VB-VL Commodores were built on the same Platform as the Opel Rekord its just that overtime Holden made a number of changes ansd improvements to it.
However; given that Holden have plans to make the OCmmodore more COmpact they could opt for the Smaller Alpha Platform which is also designed by Holden and just as Flexible otherwise there’s the Epsillon platform from the Opel Insignia both of which can accept RWD AWD and FWD
Hey “its great to be number 1″. I’d really like to buy a Toyota as they are mega reliable and just sooo trendy (everyone has one). The wife really wants a two seater sports car with say a 2litre donk, drop top (steel or fabric) don’t care whether it’s FWD or RWD. Me I want a medium/large wagon with a diesel donk. What would you suggest. He waits for answer.
“jasonp” hey buddy what article did you read where the m3 flogged the isf if i am correct so far i have read about 25-30 write up’s on the m3 vs isf vs amg63 and i would say so far its 50-50 with the beemer just ahead on handling only, get it write next time! the isf kills the bmw m3 in looks,power,torque,finish,and equipment levels and sheer value for money!
^^^
sorry mate,
no toyota kills any equivalent BMW for looks
jasonp stick to facts buddy toyota build’s there own nascar engines with trd america! stop making things up and get it right!
“jasonp” you dont seem to know what you are talking about! most if not all of your posts are made up rubbish, go do some more homework before posting again buddy!
Hey – feels great to be number 1 – correct but remember the engine capacities of both car. Can’t remember but aren’t they 1300cc difference with the Lex being 30 larger.
The GM bit losing the numero uno spot was inevitable. Poorly run business selling fossils to cowboys who now have no money to buy more. Toyotas reliability, whilst unfounded, has good reputation.
sorry 30% larger – friggin cheap keyboards
Feels Great to be No.1,
Just doing my homework now, buddy.
Will I have to skip lunch, & stay after school too?
:-)
I dunno, I think closely following the car industry for 30+ years at least allows me to express an opinion.
If you don’t agree with any of it, well that’s ok too. Even if I’m wrong on most if not all points, I’m allowed to express my thoughts.
PS I’m with Andrew M. “no toyota kills any equivalent BMW for looks”.
Especially the IS-F looking better than an M3? Not to me.
IS-F? AS-IF!
:-)
Jason P – Toyota competes in NASCAR as an equal and in the same rights as Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge therefore thier performance is equally credited as any other manufactuer. Or … if not warranted according to youself then same goes for all of ‘em.
NASCAR is infact extremely similar to the V8SC series and that they all operate a controlled chassis and even frame and the only true differance being is what manufactuer teams choose to align with to sources thier powerplants and the Toyota / TRD developed donks were simply producing greater HP to the point Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge teams whinged, swined and carried-on until Toyota had thier output artificially reduced simply because they were dominating the competition.
How typical of the American trio – instead of investing more and working harder to catch up, they take the easy path and have Toyota restricted instead … just as Holden and Ford done in Australia with Nissan.
And what comes of it all, well – it proves the American companies only ever look good when it is just them but as soon as outside competition enters the fray then all of a sudden the American owned companies don’t look so good after all … do they !!
Toyota literally made a mockery of them last year.
As for nothing to translate to road cars … correct me if i am wrong but wether it be F1, NASCAR, V8SC Series, Japanese GT, WRC or drag racing – it is all about expression of automotive engineering not to mention what most forms of racing these days have virtually nothing in common with production models bar a name.
V8SC series all run a single controlled chassis with little more then a Commodore / Falcon resembled frame attached not to mention Ford Australia hasn’t even sold a pushrod V8 for how long ????????
And before i conclude, bare in mind that the nameplates used in NASCAR by each manufactuer – the so called ‘Camry’ is the only car assembled in the US while the others are manufactuered across the US border eg. Mexico
and hasn’t that been raised on a number of accassions by many of the US population.
On a final note, it is infact TRD USA who wholely and solely engineer Toyota NASCAR donks and last year one of the titles they secured was the Craftsman Trucks of which they have now won for 3 consecative years after racing for only 5.
The Nationwide was the other secured Title and achieved in only thier second season (single handedly won 20 from 35 meetings) all while they same so close in grabbing the Sprint Cup aswell.
Oh well … 2 out of 3 is a damn good effort !!
J.J.T.,
Wasn’t saying that nothing translates to the road cars, I was saying I don’t know what benefit toyota get from it.
They don’t sell a RWD V8 Camry, just as Ford don’t sell a RWD V8 Fusion or Taurus.
I can’t stop myself watching V8 Supercars, but on the other hand, I found NASCAR (all categories) so boring, I switched off. And I’ve been a motor racing tragic for almost 30 years.
Toyota have wasted literally billions in F1; they should have just jumped in NASCAR earlier.
OK, so TRD engineer & build the V8 Camry donks; I stand corrected.
By the way, I’m not very impressed with V8 Supercar at the moment; it’s too contrived, & as you say, therace cars bear no relationship to the road cars.
I’ve been watching Classic Australian Touring Cars on DVD, & have been reminded of how great the racing was in Group A.
Commodore Vs Falcon Vs RX7 Vs Turbo Bluebird Vs BMW 635CSi.
The racing was close, you didn’t really know you’d win each race, & the cars were so much closer to standard compared to todays purpose built chassis.
Bring back Group A rules with safety upgrades, & the racing would be great.
Now Honda, having failed on a huge scale (This time around) in F1, but not as badly as Toyota, are making noises about joining NASCAR…………
God knows why……
Reels Great to be Number 1 Says: January 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
“JasonP – hey buddy what article did you read where the M3 flogged the IS-F? if i am correct so far i have read about 25-30 write up’s on the M3 vs IS-F vs AMG63 and i would say so far its 50-50 with the beemer just ahead….”
Given that the AS-IF is such a high profile and eagerly anticipated car [by some] I would expect that there have been more than 30 odd articles/reviews written about it
by some of the world’s reputable international motoring journalists [and some not so]
I have read a number of articles on the IS-F and how it compares to the M3… Overall it appears the IS-Fs quite an impressive car which has a number of issues such as the rigid suspension which gives the impression that they’re trying a little too hard to impress.
Just because you haven’t read the same article as Jason myself or anyone else has doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen.
toyota sure know how to run a business
the first ever loss in 71 years thats astounding.
jasonP Says:
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
“They don’t sell a RWD V8 Camry, just as Ford don’t sell a RWD V8 Fusion or Taurus.”
Toyota Japan do sell a fabulous RWD V8 – the Toyota Crown. I drove it while I was in Tokyo recently. Shame it isn’t sold here. It’s big, powerful, and the interior is more LS than Aurion.
Jason P – You have raised the question ‘why does Toyota bother racing in NASCAR’ a couple of times but anotherway of looking at it is … why not !!
Considering the North American market is the single largest market for Toyota (and many other manufactuers for that matter including most from Japan) and that approx 50% of thier profits are derived from the one environment then obviuosly North America is arguably the best market of all to be promoting themselves especially in the form of motorsport not to mention NASCAR is infact the second most popular and viewed sport in the US.
It’s not about the Camry or RWD for that matter, just racing !!
As for names, it’s just that and nothing else so what does it really matter. Wether they call it a Yaris or a Lexus IS-F … does the stickered name make any differance to the actual developed racing product !!!!!!
And before i conclude – considering Toyota had an absolute blinder of season last year (and they did), it sure as hell wouldn’t have done thier image any harm and not just in North America either but around the world and them some bragging rights :
* Toyota beat the American trio at thier own game on thier own soil … Oooch !!!
Toyota certainly got bang for thier buck last year in NASCAR and i believe they will remain competitive for the upcoming season aswell.
Oh yeah, Marcus Ambrose has made the switch to Toyota as of this year.
jasonp in the eyes of “phillis diller” the bmw m3 may look good but to every one else the new 3 series range is plain butt ugly! the isf would but a horn on a jellyfish and every write up agrees, the isf kills the m3 on looks no argument!
Truly wonderful news, serves them right for making sh*t cars.