GM loses global sales crown after 77 years (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

GM loses global sales crown after 77 years
Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:45am EST

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp on Wednesday
said its global vehicle sales for 2008 had dropped
11 percent, allowing rival Toyota Motor Corp to surpass it
as the world's largest automaker for the first time.

GM, now struggling to restructure under a $13.4 billion U.S.
government bailout, had held the title as the global auto
industry leader for 77 years and used the line in its
marketing.

But for 2008, Detroit-based GM said its sales decreased to
8.35 million vehicles, pressured by tightening credit and a
slowdown that began in the United States and spread to
emerging markets where GM has been stronger.

Earlier this week, Toyota said its global sales for 2008 had
slipped 4 percent to 8.97 million vehicles as it also battled
a costly slowdown in key markets.

Both GM and Toyota downplayed the significance of the
shift in market leadership.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSWNAB17492009...

[Renew Deal]

1. And Toyota only sells Toyota.

GM sells under many brands.

[ContraBass Black]

3. That is false.

Toyota also sells Lexus and Scion.

[EnviroBat]

2. I heard just this morning that they've already pissed away

this first installment of the bailout money they were loaned. As I predicted, this bailout loan will be flushed right down the shitter. They are planning to ask congress for the second half. What then? Bankruptcy anyway, and the US taxpayers left holding the fucking bag.

[AndyA]

4. GM, Ford, and Chrysler will never recover until people start buying their cars again.

It's time for Americans to put AMERICA first. And by doing so, they will support American companies and American jobs.

People act like all American cars are bad, and they aren't. All manufacturer's build some good and some bad cars. I know people who have both foreign and domestic, and it's a mixed bag. My neighbor has two Toyotas and an old Ford truck. The truck never seems to give him any problems, and the Toyotas are constantly in need of something, and one of them has left his wife and baby stranded more than once.

I had a Mercury Marquis company car a few years back, and it had well over 150,000 trouble free miles. It never failed to start, and any repairs needed were always minor and never needed to be done in order to safely and dependably drive the car.

After the selfish, "me first" Bush era, it's time for Americans to stop being so self serving and do what's right for the country for a change. It should be pretty obvious to all by now what not putting America first has given us.