GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

[evanovitch]

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp on Wednesday said its global vehicle sales for 2008 had dropped 11 percent, <span style="font-weight: bold">allowing rival Toyota Motor Corp to surpass it as the world's largest automaker for the <span style="font-style: italic">first time</span>.</span>

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.

&quot;Share doesn't always pay the bills,&quot; Don Esmond, Toyota's senior vice president for U.S. operations, said at an industry conference when asked about Toyota capturing the No. 1 spot.

GM's sales analyst Mike DiGiovanni said 2009 was starting on a weak note in the U.S. market, the world's single largest.

[MrsBlue]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<span style="color: #3333FF">Toyota </span>

[RichD]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Detroit-based GM said its sales decreased to 8.35 million vehicles,


</div></div> dem should start making vehicles people actually want to buy

[MrsBlue]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<span style="color: #3333FF"> Yeah, like Toyota. </span>

[Tuff Gong]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years


<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/21/gm-cash-will-run-out-befo_n_159594.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
<span style="font-weight: bold">GM: Cash Will Run Out Before March 31</span></a>

[evanovitch]

Fiat and Chrysler create alliance




Chrysler has received a $4bn US government loan
Italian carmaker Fiat and US giant Chrysler have agreed to create a global strategic alliance, the companies said in a statement.

Under the terms of the deal, Fiat will get a 35% stake in Chrysler. In return, the US firm will get access to Fiat's fuel-efficient vehicle technologies.

It is hoped the agreement will lead to &quot;substantial&quot; savings for Chrysler.

The United Auto Workers union (UAW) welcomed the deal, saying it could help preserve US manufacturing jobs.

&quot;[The alliance] offers Chrysler new opportunities to compete in the US market and the global marketplace,&quot; UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Who gets what </span>

Under the terms of the deal <span style="font-weight: bold">Chrysler will get</span>:

• Access to Fiat's environmentally friendly vehicle technologies and components

• &quot;Substantial cost savings opportunities&quot;

• Access to Fiat's distribution network in &quot;key growth markets&quot; outside the US and its global supplier base.

In return, <span style="font-weight: bold">Fiat will receive</span>:

• Access to Chrysler's distribution network and suppliers

• A 35% equity stake in Chrysler.

The statement points out, however, that the agreement does not commit Fiat to funding Chrysler in future.

[Emperah]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Detroit-based GM said its sales decreased to 8.35 million vehicles,


</div></div> dem should start making vehicles people actually want to buy </div></div>

evenn when they do, (and they do) ppl are so brainwashed over foreign veekles dat dem won't buy one anyhow.

Tek fi instance de malibu, would you buy one?
Why or why not?

[Emperah]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrsBlue</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="color: #3333FF"> Yeah, like Toyota. </span> </div></div>

Toyota has de most boring cyaar dem pan de planet, at the autoshow yessideh dem neh have anyting dat impress mi bout dem future development. But I kno dem a suffah tuh suh dem did scale back dem show nuff.

[blugiant]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

tell gm fe mekk quaaliteeeee vehiikkles like toyota

[Emperah]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">tell gm fe mekk quaaliteeeee vehiikkles like toyota </div></div>

they do but unno naah bleev dat

[Shine_Eye_Girl]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

Domestic

Imports

[Emperah]

Re: GM loses global sales crown after 77 years

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TLC_Beauty</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Domestic

Imports </div></div>

yuh si when ppl bleeve like dat, it show mi how much dem really kno bout cyaar.