Toyota takes world sales lead from GM
Toyota Motor has taken the first-quarter global automotive sales lead from General Motors, selling 2.41 million vehicles to GM’s 2.25 million over the first three months of the year.
By Agencies |
DETROIT: Toyota Motor has taken the first-quarter global automotive sales lead from General Motors, selling 2.41 million vehicles to GM���s 2.25 million over the first three months of the year.
GM said Wednesday its first-quarter sales dropped across the globe by less than 1%, but Toyota said its sales were up 2.7% during the January-through-March period.
A record 64% of GM���s sales came from outside the United States. Strong demand in Europe supported Toyota���s worldwide sales.
GM posted record sales in three of its four regions, but a 10% drop in North America pulled down the overall numbers. Sales were up 8% outside of North America, the Detroit automaker said.
Toyota said output of popular, fuel-efficient small cars such as the Corolla model grew strongly in China, while production of pickup trucks rose steadily in Thailand during the quarter.
Some analysts say it���s only a matter of time before Toyota ��� which built its business in the decades after World War II by imitating American automakers ��� overtakes GM in terms of annual global sales as well as production.
���While the challenges of the US economy continue to put pressure on the automotive industry there, we saw nearly 20% growth in the Latin America, Africa and Middle East, and 6% growth in the Asia Pacific region,��� John Middlebrook, GM vice president of global sales, said in a statement.
GM said Wednesday its first-quarter sales dropped across the globe by less than 1%, but Toyota said its sales were up 2.7% during the January-through-March period.
A record 64% of GM���s sales came from outside the United States. Strong demand in Europe supported Toyota���s worldwide sales.
GM posted record sales in three of its four regions, but a 10% drop in North America pulled down the overall numbers. Sales were up 8% outside of North America, the Detroit automaker said.
Toyota said output of popular, fuel-efficient small cars such as the Corolla model grew strongly in China, while production of pickup trucks rose steadily in Thailand during the quarter.
Some analysts say it���s only a matter of time before Toyota ��� which built its business in the decades after World War II by imitating American automakers ��� overtakes GM in terms of annual global sales as well as production.
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���While the challenges of the US economy continue to put pressure on the automotive industry there, we saw nearly 20% growth in the Latin America, Africa and Middle East, and 6% growth in the Asia Pacific region,��� John Middlebrook, GM vice president of global sales, said in a statement.
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