Software Review
GM
|
25 Apr 07 Arik Johnson |  |
Toyota Takes the Lead Surpassing GM in First Quarter Vehicle Sales
The news yesterday that Toyota had finally surpassed General Motors in first quarter vehicle sales, on track to take the top spot in market share from its American competitor for the first time in 76 years, was actually welcome news to many GM investors.
It meant that GM had decision making discipline that had appeared to be lacking in years past and didn't feel compelled to go out and make some silly acquisition just to hang onto an artificially important psychological advantage in its quest to return to profitability and, we hope, greatness as a competitive force in an industry that has found the company less and less relevant over the preceeding decade.
Indeed, I'm really pulling for GM, as I've owned Toyota's, Chevy's and a Ford or two over the years, this is really the battle for my wallet they're engaged in. And, I can say with confidence that, I probably won't buy another new car unless and until something big happens on the energy efficiency front - a capital investment like an automobile is just too big a household purchase to make a mistake that could make the very cost-structure of one's budget less sustainable over time, and I suspect I'm not the least elastic consumer in automakers' sights.
Here's the best excerpt I could find on what happened and what it all means:
Toyota Motor Corp. became the world's top auto seller in the first three months of the year, passing rival General Motors Corp. for the first time, the Japanese automaker said Tuesday. (read more)
|
16 Feb 07 Arik Johnson | |
L-R: Dr. Dieter Zetsche Chairman of the Board and Hartmut Schick Head of Global Communications for DaimlerChrysler, sit with Thomas LaSorda, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Group, attend a press conference for DaimlerChrysler at their US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. DaimlerChrysler said it would axe 13,000 jobs at US unit Chrysler as part of a restructuring aimed at restoring its profitability by 2008.
... but he still looked a lot more confident than Chrysler chief Tom LaSorda in this photo below.
