As 2009 U.S. light-vehicle sales fall to 9.5 million units, Toyota will come really close to stealing GM’s no.1 U.S. market share position, forecasting firm IHS Global Insight predicted today.

IHS Global Insight said that Toyota’s 2010 U.S. market share will edge out GM’s, which will hold the title this year with a 17.9 percent share. According to Automotive News, the firm projected Toyota’s 2010 market share at 17.6 percent and GM’s at 17.3 percent.

Separately, IHS Global Insight said that FoMoCo will beat General Motors to become North America’s top auto producer. Chrysler, which has cancelled production during its bankruptcy stay, will fall to no.5 – behind Honda and Toyota.

The forecasting firm said that Ford will build 1.9 million units, a 17.7 percent decrease from last year. As GM shuts down most of its plants, it will build 1.7 million vehicles this year, half as many as it did in 2008.

- By: Omar Rana