GM?s 77-year reign as world?s largest automaker ends

[SVT666]

GM?s 77-year reign as world?s largest automaker ends

Detroit-based automaker General Motors held the title of world?s largest automaker for nearly 77 years, but with a 10.6 percent drop in worldwide sales last year, the automaker was forced to relinquish the title to Japan?s Toyota. GM sold about 616,000 fewer cars across the globe than did Toyota.

GM President Fritz Henderson told industry journal Automotive News that the title wasn?t ?terribly important? to him and that GM?s financial footing took priority over the title. The automaker did boast itself as ?the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years? on its website until earlier this morning.

There?s little reason for major celebration in Japan, however: Toyota?s sales were down about 4 percent last year and the automaker says it won?t post a profit for the first time in more than 50 years.

GM sales were down 22.7 percent in the United States last year, while Toyota?s were down 15.7 percent.

[Nethead]

Can there be anyone, anywhere, who was surprised by this?  Honda may bump GM to third in the near future.  After a full year (2009) of the taxpayer-supported GM, the overall picture may be clearer.  Selling Hummer, Saab, and anything else that some company somewhere will actually buy may shrink GM considerably--but strengthen the company that remains.  If it's not too late, of course, and if at least twelve million new cars are sold in the US (by all companies, not just GM) in 2009.  Failing to sell the low-sellers will only hurt--perhaps mortally...

What was GM's US marketshare for the entire calendar year of 2008?

[3.0L V6]

Can there be anyone, anywhere, who was surprised by this?  Honda may bump GM to third in the near future.  After a full year (2009) of the taxpayer-supported GM, the overall picture may be clearer.  Selling Hummer, Saab, and anything else that some company somewhere will actually buy may shrink GM considerably--but strengthen the company that remains.  If it's not too late, of course, and if at least twelve million new cars are sold in the US (by all companies, not just GM) in 2009.  Failing to sell the low-sellers will only hurt--perhaps mortally...

What was GM's US marketshare for the entire calendar year of 2008?

In the global scheme of things, Honda isn't that large. Much smaller than GM. Ford or VW may overtake GM before Honda does.

[Nethead]

In the global scheme of things, Honda isn't that large. Much smaller than GM. Ford or VW may overtake GM before Honda does.

You're right!