Toyota becomes world’s largest automaker once again, tops GM in first quarter of 2012
Toyota and General Motors have always been at battle for being the world’s largest automaker. Toyota lost the title to General Motors last year after being the world’s largest automaker from 2008 to 2010. It has now once again gained the title as it beat out the Detroit automaker in global auto sales in the first quarter of 2012.
Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Hino and Daihatsu model sales jumped 18 percent to 2.49 million in the quarter, while GM came in with 2.28 million and Volkswagen AG at 2.16 million.
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Toyota lost the title to GM last year as its output was limited after the March earthquake in Japan. It even fell to the No.3 spot as Volkswagen AG took the second spot.
“Although being No. 1 is not the main goal for us, it’s nice to see because hopefully it shows we’re on the right track,” said Jim Wiseman, Toyota’s North American vice president of external affairs. “With customers reacting so positively to all of the new and updated products we’re introducing this year, we’re optimistic the good momentum will continue.”
– By: Omar Rana
Source: Bloomberg
