According to the article below, Toyota will replace GM as the #1 car manufacturer in the world next year:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/26/news/international/toyota_gm.reut/index.htm




TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. will raise vehicle output by 11 percent next year, unseating General Motors Corp. as the world's biggest manufacturer of automobiles, a Japanese newspaper reported Wednesday.

Toyota, whose profits and market value already dwarf those of its rivals, plans to raise group output to more than 9.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2006, or nearly 1 million more than its projection for 2005, business daily Nihon Keizai said.

Excluding minivehicle and truck units Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd., Toyota's own-brand production will rise 12 percent to 8.3 million units next year, the newspaper said without citing sources.

A Toyota official said the company had not yet finalized its production plans for next year.

But one analyst said it was feasible given the pace of Toyota's expansion plans.

"Given additional production and domestic and overseas plants that are scheduled to go on stream in FY2006/07 (ending March 2007), global production of about 8.3 million units can be reached," Merrill Lynch auto analyst Tatsuo Yoshida said in a note to clients.

Helped by a reputation for building reliable and fuel-efficient vehicles, Toyota is picking up market share from loss-riddled GM (Research) in the U.S. company's home market.

The Detroit giant's market share for October looks set to fall to a 25-year low of about 20.5 percent, according to New York-based Deutsche Bank analyst Rod Lache.

Toyota had 13.4 percent of the U.S. market in September, more than Chrysler's 13.2 percent and up from 11.3 percent a year earlier, while GM's share fell to 25.9 percent from 31.7 percent.

Like Toyota, GM has not announced production plans for 2006.

But Japan's top auto manufacturer has said the group aims to sell 8.5 million vehicles in calendar 2006, which would likely keep it as the world's second-biggest seller of automobiles behind the GM group.

Sales and production figures can differ widely depending on how much inventory an auto manufacturer and its dealers hold.

In the first nine months of this year, the Toyota group built 6,124,434 vehicles worldwide.

GM produced an estimated 6,718,000 units during that period, and sold 7,066,774 vehicles, up 3.7 percent from the same period last year.

For all of 2005, GM has forecast global production of 9,115,000 vehicles.

The Detroit-based auto manufacturer has been cutting back production at home to whittle down its bloated inventory, but it is expanding rapidly in China, where it is set to overtake Volkswagen AG as the No. 1 brand this year.

Race in China
Toyota, whose market capitalization of $160 billion is almost 10 times that of GM's, is racing to catch up with GM and others in China, while also planning increased capacity in North America as well as in Russia and other fast-growing emerging markets.

On top of a fifth plant due to start production in China next year, Toyota said Wednesday it was preparing to set up a sixth car factory in the northeastern city of Tianjin with local partner FAW to build about 200,000 compact cars a year starting in mid-2007, pending government approval.

Toyota, which was late to enter the hot Chinese car market, is targeting a 10 percent share by 2010 with a full line of products, including its imported premium Lexus vehicles and the Prius hybrid to be built locally by the FAW-Toyota venture.

Globally, Toyota has set a goal of boosting market share to 15 percent and annual revenues to ¥20 trillion ($173.7 billion) in the medium term.

Toyota is due to announce production and sales plans for 2006 in December.

Subsidiaries Daihatsu and Hino have not solidified plans for 2006, but they will likely raise combined production next year from the 890,000 units projected for this calendar year, supported by brisk domestic demand, the Nihon Keizai reported.

In July, Toyota revised up its own-brand global output forecast to 7.39 million vehicles for this year, up 10 percent from 2004, while increasing its group-wide output plan to 8.28 million units, up 9.7 percent.

The revision came after the maker of the Prius hybrid car announced strong growth in global output for the first six months of the year, driven by healthy domestic and U.S. sales.

With rival Nissan Motor Co.'s chief executive Carlos Ghosn turning bearish on the U.S. market recently, one fund manager said Toyota could emerge as the sole winner after a solid streak at all of Japan's top auto manufacturers.

"Japanese auto makers have had to grab market share from GM or Ford, but that's coming to a limit and now they have to steal share from each other," said Akio Yoshino, a fund manager at Societe Generale Asset Management. "So far, Toyota is winning."

Shares in Toyota ended up 1.96 percent at ¥5,210 and Daihatsu rose 0.71 percent to ¥1,137. Hino was up 0.85 percent at ¥713.

:rofl: :clap:
I am soooo not suprised.

I really like looking at TMC from a business standpoint.

The article mentions how Toyota fares against GM, Chrysler, and even Nissan. But I personaly see GM and Honda as being the main competition (business wise). You don't really see a lot of strategy comparisons between Toyota and Honda. And I'm also curious how Honda's numbers stack up. I know the Honda line as a whole does well, but they have no truck sales (yay Tacoma). And Acura is a mid-level luxury company. I'm not sure if their volume is higher or lower, since they don't hold a candle to premium brands, but are technically more competitive, value wise.

^^^

Honda Ridgeline?

still no comparison to the sales of a Tacoma from what I've seen...

I really like the automobiles toyota is putting out. I just hope this doesn't mean their will be a quality issue if they start building the cars here in the US.

Honda Ridgeline.... YUCK that shiznit is soo freakin ugly. its just Junk IMO. WHY would anybody buy that over a Tacoma.. i mean seriously..

Im not a big fan of trucks but, if i was going to buy a truck it wouldnt be a ridgeline or a tacoma. I would buy a Titan or an F150.

^ obviously all that record spinning has made him delirious

I really like the automobiles toyota is putting out. I just hope this doesn't mean their will be a quality issue if they start building the cars here in the US.

I wouldnt tihnk the quality would go down at all....Toyota already produces i beleive the camry and solora(same platform) here in the US...correct me if im wrong about that....and im possitive they produce cars in cananda for the US market...IE my Matrix XRS was produced in canada(sure it's not the US but it's close :silly: )

Im not a big fan of trucks but, if i was going to buy a truck it wouldnt be a ridgeline or a tacoma. I would buy a Titan or an F150.Nissan Titan... :clap:

I really like the automobiles toyota is putting out. I just hope this doesn't mean their will be a quality issue if they start building the cars here in the US.

I think thats a big issue. More volume means more people and parts to make sure they all work as designed. It just becomes harder to make sure you have all the right people in place. Im pretty sure if they want to build more cars they need more US plants which means more new suppliers to work with. It is possible to grow too big and just run out of capible people.

I dont think the Honda Ridgeline is even close to a truck. It sure doesnt compete very well in truck like things. Its a truck for people who really need a car but think they need a truck.

^^^

Honda Ridgeline?

nice vehicle, but still no truck...

Honda Ridgeline: The truck for people who don't like trucks.

:)

Nissan Titan... :clap:

I work with a guy with a Titan, and he hates it. 9 mpg sucks unless you drive a semi.

I really like looking at TMC from a business standpoint.

The article mentions how Toyota fares against GM, Chrysler, and even Nissan. But I personaly see GM and Honda as being the main competition (business wise). You don't really see a lot of strategy comparisons between Toyota and Honda. And I'm also curious how Honda's numbers stack up. I know the Honda line as a whole does well, but they have no truck sales (yay Tacoma). And Acura is a mid-level luxury company. I'm not sure if their volume is higher or lower, since they don't hold a candle to premium brands, but are technically more competitive, value wise.

Actually Honda is really sruggling to stay alive.

I really like looking at TMC from a business standpoint.

The article mentions how Toyota fares against GM, Chrysler, and even Nissan. But I personaly see GM and Honda as being the main competition (business wise). You don't really see a lot of strategy comparisons between Toyota and Honda. And I'm also curious how Honda's numbers stack up. I know the Honda line as a whole does well, but they have no truck sales (yay Tacoma). And Acura is a mid-level luxury company. I'm not sure if their volume is higher or lower, since they don't hold a candle to premium brands, but are technically more competitive, value wise.

Actually Honda is really sruggling to stay alive.

I know they are strong in Asia. . . I'm currently doing research. But, I know that they spend a rediculous amount on R&D that is pointless and has no profit potential. . . like AsSimo.

^^^

Honda Ridgeline?

The Ridgeline is a joke. . . and its sales proves it. The only people who'd buy it would be hippie Ben and Jerry Ice Cream shop owners who need a light duty commercial duty, and want to make the world eat soylent green and smoke illegal substances.

Im not a big fan of trucks but, if i was going to buy a truck it wouldnt be a ridgeline or a tacoma. I would buy a Titan or an F150.Nissan Titan... :clap:

The Titan is a great truck, but for some reason, sales still don't match the Tundra. The Tundra sells because of reputation and build quality. Even though the Titan may be a better truck, the excecution (from the marketing and sales side) is VERY poor. That and they cheaped out on their interiors a bit.

But people who buy Toyota buy for the reputation of durability. . . which is what a lot of truck owners look for (and is a reputation that Ford trucks OWN). But the Tundra does lack in truckness. Even though the Titan excels in every area that the Tundra fails, I think that it just can't get past the image it carries. . . and it also helps that Toyota has established itself with the Tacoma. But who knows, maybe Titan sales will overtake the Tundra (or already have?). It's quite possible.

But with the redesign of the Tundra. I think the Titan, as well as just about every full sized truck on the market, will be hurting big time.
________________________________

IMO The current area where Toyota is not dominating (at the moment). . .
1. Heavy duty/full sized trucks, including SUV's.
2. Sports/sporty vehicles (it's a crowded market, and not very profitable)
3. Mid-level luxury sports sedans (BMW still owns)
4. Super luxury (AMG, M, Benz, Maybach, Bentley, still own).
5. High performance vehicles (it's a super crowded market, and with the new C6, good luck to any manufacturer on providing a better bargain).[/list]

The Ridgeline is a joke. . . and its sales proves it.

Never said it wasn't. But however pathetic its sales are, its better than "No sales", which seemed to be your contention about Honda's entry into the truck market.

I think maybe "No profit" would have been a more accurate statement.

:P

If we go by sales.
GM still #1 (for now) :loser:
Toyota #2 :love:

Honda sits in a very distant 4th and having to watch Hyundai in the rearview mirror. :yawn:

If we go by profit.

Toyota made as much as the ENTIRE world's car companies Combined. $40 Billion with a "B" in profit. Toyota wrote off the entire Camridge plant costs and still is turning in an almost record profit. :bow:

Honda is VERY strong in ATV, motorcycles and such. The car company makes a modest profit but is not stellar. Nissan is living on Japanese government loans that kept them solvent. Mitsu is dying as we watch. :loser:
Toyota nows owns Subaru just because they bought Fiji Heavy Industrial ( Subaru's parent company) . Let's think on that. You spend Billions and get a car company thrown in for free. That is Toyota. :love:

The are the automotive borg.
"Resistance is futile. We are Toyota , we will assimulate you." :bow:

Honda 4th? Where cause I dont think its in the world? US and Japan are the only places they sell much in the way of cars.

IE my Matrix XRS was produced in canada(sure it's not the US but it's close :silly: )

nope. all Matrix trim-levels are assembled in Fremont, California and share the same assembly line with the Pontiac Vibe. the Tacoma is also being built in the same plant.

"Resistance is futile. We are Toyota , we will assimulate you."

that is brilliant! you mind if I use it? :lalala:

IE my Matrix XRS was produced in canada(sure it's not the US but it's close :silly: )

nope. all Matrix trim-levels are assembled in Fremont, California and share the same assembly line with the Pontiac Vibe. the Tacoma is also being built in the same plant.

They make it in Onterio Canada too.

IE my Matrix XRS was produced in canada(sure it's not the US but it's close :silly: )

nope. all Matrix trim-levels are assembled in Fremont, California and share the same assembly line with the Pontiac Vibe. the Tacoma is also being built in the same plant.

They make it in Onterio Canada too.

now that's new to me. i guess the guy's right. just wanted to put the NUMI plant in fremont, CA on the map. :P

If we go by sales.
GM still #1 (for now) :loser:
Toyota #2 :love:

Honda sits in a very distant 4th and having to watch Hyundai in the rearview mirror. :yawn:

If we go by profit.

Toyota made as much as the ENTIRE world's car companies Combined. $40 Billion with a "B" in profit. Toyota wrote off the entire Camridge plant costs and still is turning in an almost record profit. :bow:

Honda is VERY strong in ATV, motorcycles and such. The car company makes a modest profit but is not stellar. Nissan is living on Japanese government loans that kept them solvent. Mitsu is dying as we watch. :loser:
Toyota nows owns Subaru just because they bought Fiji Heavy Industrial ( Subaru's parent company) . Let's think on that. You spend Billions and get a car company thrown in for free. That is Toyota. :love:

The are the automotive borg.
"Resistance is futile. We are Toyota , we will assimulate you." :bow:

THanks for the info. . . and you're right about Toyota's path. . . one question: are you SURE that Toyota owns Fiji (is it Figi or Fugi) Heavy Industrial. It was my understanding that they only bought a large chunk of shares, thus getting some control and leverage). But I didn't know that Toyota had the majority of shares, giving it total control (owning). It's big news to own a large chunk, but it's huge news to own the majority of shares.

Here's more reason why the Titan's sales aren't as strong as they should be:
http://us.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/10/26/cr_most_reliable/index.html

And the discussion thread:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1142720#1142720

Here's more reason why the Titan's sales aren't as strong as they should be:
http://us.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/10/26/cr_most_reliable/index.html


quoting from that article:

"Of the 31 cars that earned the top rating, only two were from U.S.-based manufacturers -- the remaining 29 vehicles were from Japanese automakers, and none represented European brands. Almost half of the top 31 -- 15 vehicles -- were manufactured by Toyota.

Of the vehicles with the worst reliability, 22 were from U.S.-based manufacturers, 20 from European brands, four from Japanese makers and two from South Korean companies."

Toyota quality surpasses

....FORD needs to buy Honda ...let them build the cars and Ford the trucks .

..you need a class II license for vehicles over 80" wide .
...the all new Tundra ; 79.9" wide .
...now that's a truck !

Honda is very profitable-they are on a pace to make a bit less than five billion dollars US this fiscal year (~500 billion yen). Now, Toyota's profits the last two years have been about double that (IE, about 10 billion dollars/1 trillion yen), but they sell almost twice as many vehicles, too, so it's probably close to a wash between the two if you consider thier sizes.

The Ridgeline is selling like crap, though-which is not really unexpected, since it's not really a traditional truck. What is unexpected is that the Nissan Titan is undeperforming as well. I hope Toyota knows what they are doing with that huge truck plant in Texas-it looks like truck buyers are mostly sticking with the domestic brands. To be fair, the domestics most reliabile products are mostly trucks, and they make bigger ones than even the Titan. But part of it comes from the mentality of your typical truck buyer, I think.

THanks for the info. . . and you're right about Toyota's path. . . one question: are you SURE that Toyota owns Fiji (is it Figi or Fugi) Heavy Industrial. It was my understanding that they only bought a large chunk of shares, thus getting some control and leverage). But I didn't know that Toyota had the majority of shares, giving it total control (owning). It's big news to own a large chunk, but it's huge news to own the majority of shares.

They bought 8.7% of it. A fair sized chunk, but even a smaller chunk than GM owned (which was 20% in total).

IE my Matrix XRS was produced in canada(sure it's not the US but it's close :silly: )

nope. all Matrix trim-levels are assembled in Fremont, California and share the same assembly line with the Pontiac Vibe. the Tacoma is also being built in the same plant.

They make it in Onterio Canada too.

now that's new to me. i guess the guy's right. just wanted to put the NUMI plant in fremont, CA on the map. :P

NUMMI has never made the Matrix. They make Corollas, Tacomas, and Pontaic Vibes.

still no comparison to the sales of a Tacoma from what I've seen...

I love my tacoma! its an 05 Double Cab Short Bed! in bright red!

IE my Matrix XRS was produced in canada(sure it's not the US but it's close :silly: )

nope. all Matrix trim-levels are assembled in Fremont, California and share the same assembly line with the Pontiac Vibe. the Tacoma is also being built in the same plant.

They make it in Onterio Canada too.

now that's new to me. i guess the guy's right. just wanted to put the NUMI plant in fremont, CA on the map. :P

NUMMI has never made the Matrix. They make Corollas, Tacomas, and Pontaic Vibes.

I thought they made the Matrix too but I guess not.
Production Volume: 2003 2004
Corolla 157,561 167,970
Tacoma 161,566 143,281
Voltz (for Japan) 1,733 201
Pontiac Vibe 74,223 69,226

If you really want to see a joke truck, look at the Lincoln Mark LT. I work at a Lincoln/Mercury dealer (don't worry, I only buy and drive Toyota/Scion) and we have sold 2 trucks in the past 7 months. People are smart and realize that $48,000 bucks for a truck is ridiculous.

Did the Mark LT do worse than the Aztek? It seems so. . . because I do see a few on the road. . . but I think I've only seen one Mark LT EVER.

The Aztec has definately sold better than the Mark LT. I mean don't get me wrong, the Mark LT has a lot of luxury, but with the horrible gas milage, 34gallon tank (i couldn't even afford to Fill it up) people are just sticking with the F150, which is $25000 cheaper, and basically the same truck.

^^^

Honda Ridgeline?

The Ridgeline is a joke. . . and its sales proves it. The only people who'd buy it would be hippie Ben and Jerry Ice Cream shop owners who need a light duty commercial duty, and want to make the world eat soylent green and smoke illegal substances.

The Ridgeline is actually a very intelligently designed vehicle, except maybe for it's Element looks.

First of all, it is meant to compete with compact and mid-sized pickups, NOT full size trucks.

In that it does very well. It has equal or better payload and towing capacity to anything in it's class, excellent fuel mileage for it's class and ride and handling that NO pickup can come close to. Honda deserves credit for actually trying to innovate in the area of pickups instead of using the same old tired 60 year old formula.

Read up on it in detail before you knock it. It's a very capable truck with a solid AWD system, locking rear differential and road manners like a modern car instead of a horse wagon with leaf springs and a solid axle. It's a viable alternative to any compact or midsize pickup. Comparing it to a 9000 hp macho wagon Titan or F150 is just nonsensical. :loser:

^^^

Honda Ridgeline?

The Ridgeline is a joke. . . and its sales proves it. The only people who'd buy it would be hippie Ben and Jerry Ice Cream shop owners who need a light duty commercial duty, and want to make the world eat soylent green and smoke illegal substances.

The Ridgeline is actually a very intelligently designed vehicle, except maybe for it's Element looks.

First of all, it is meant to compete with compact and mid-sized pickups, NOT full size trucks.

In that it does very well. It has equal or better payload and towing capacity to anything in it's class, excellent fuel mileage for it's class and ride and handling that NO pickup can come close to. Honda deserves credit for actually trying to innovate in the area of pickups instead of using the same old tired 60 year old formula.

Read up on it in detail before you knock it. It's a very capable truck with a solid AWD system, locking rear differential and road manners like a modern car instead of a horse wagon with leaf springs and a solid axle. It's a viable alternative to any compact or midsize pickup. Comparing it to a 9000 hp macho wagon Titan or F150 is just nonsensical. :loser:

I have, and I'm still knocking it.

I am a businessman, and I judge car companies as businesses. Better business usually equates to better cars, and in a competition heavy industry such as this, it's a VERY good basis of comparison. The ridgeline is an investment failure. . . a complete waste of resources. It never took off in direction Honda wanted, and is more a hippie-alternative vehicle. It has qualities, I'm sure, but commercial users just aren't buying it. Maybe it's because it isn't proven yet. . . maybe it is because it isn't attractive. Whatever the reason, there's not much of a market for Ridgelines.

And in the world of compact/midsize pickups, awd is a fancy option. The money makers are the two wheel drive models. A business owner isn't really going to take his restaurant food supply into muddy off-road terrain. Utility, utility, utility. . . and value, value, value. Sure, it may have some quirky features, but that bed is tiny. Value? Hardly!

The actual market of the ridgeline is more of a CRV/Pilot alternative. . .

It's not for businesses.

2wd stripped models sold to painters and plumbers and small fleets are not what makes companies money, it's the 4WD loaded models that private citizens buy that pay the rent. That's who this is targeted at.

I agree that the controversial styling isn't helping sales though. I think their target audience is people who love Honda, but want a pickup and others who want midsize pickup utility but with the comfort and handling of a sporty SUV. I think anyone who fits that description and either likes or can get over the blocky styling would be well served by one of these.

What possible advantage could there be to buying a traditional midsized or compact truck with the buckboard leafspring ride and awful handling that lacks all the cool featues and cubby holes and what-not of the Ridgeline? Again, the Ridgeline does not sacrifice hauling or towing capability and it's AWD system, locking diff and ground clearance are more than sufficient for all but the most serious off-road enthusiasts. It can tow your speedboat or trailer, it can handle all the snow and muddy roads you want to throw at it and the 90% of the time MOST people aren't hauling or towing anything-- it drive and rides like a car instead of a WW2 era Jeep.

Sounds like win-win to me, except for the hideous styling. If it wasn't for the funky looks and the fact that American truck buyer equate engine displacement with the size of their genitalia, I think Honda would have a real winner here.

As it is, it will be a niche product, but I don't think Honda ever intended to make a dent in the traditional truck market--- then again one look at this vehicle and how it's designed should tell you that was never their intent. :)

That's exactly why the ridgeline isn't selling. . .

in traditional light duty truck sales, 2wd models outsell the 4wd models by a fairly large margin. Yes, they targeted a niche market, a very small one. It's a fine piece of engineering, as is a Pontiac Aztec. . . but the fact is, is that not many people want one. Same with the Ridgeline. I don't care how good the 4wd is, if it doesn't sell, it doesn't sell. The ridgeline DOES NOT sell.

I agree it doesn't sell well.

Neither does the Lotus Elise or the Scion xA for that matter.

Doesn't mean they aren't good vehicles.

Citing traditional light duty 2WD truck sales isn't really relevant here since thats not what it is, nor was it intended to be at all.

That said, I'm betting Honda is probably disappointed by the sales. But I am sure they set realistically low sales targets.

I think if anythings hurting it, it's the funky looks. I don't Honda or anyone else ever thought that guys who hang drywall for a living were going to be lining up around the block to buy base model ridgelines with vinyl bench seats and no radio to go to Home Depot in--- that was never the point of this vehicle.

It's like you said, it's aimed at people who might buy a Pilot or something or non-traditional truck buyers who might want something like an Avalanche to haul their plasma screen TV home from Best Buy but don't want suspension technology from the 1930s and handling like a cement truck.

Yup. . .the xA is a pretty big flop. . . compared to the rest of the Scion line. However, they only stay on the dealer lot for a matter of weeks, which is far beyond most other vehicles, but definitely no comparison the xB or tC.

And the Elise does sell well, in fact. It doesn't have much of a problem meeting it's projected sales, which is the entire point of a niche vehicle.

Look, I think you missed my point. . . it's not that the Ridgeline is a complete POS, I'm sure it's built well. But the point is that nobody wants it, niche or not. . . and even if people want it, nobody buys it (because it is over priced). That's why it is a hippie wagon, that is why it is a flop. Not many people wanted it in the first place, and the price was set so high that most people turn to other alternatives.

For the price of a Ridgeline, you could just about buy both a CR-V and a stripped Tacoma for your plasma screen.

Anyways, this is getting extremely off topic, so we should just drop it. You aren't a stupid guy either, as you seem to argue with facts and reason. I'll take this as a friendly debate. I can see that it is a good vehicle, peray, but I still stand by my belief that it is and was a financial/executive mistake on Honda's part to build it. I guess we'll just agree to disagree =)

.....i can sell every xA i can get .

Ill agree that the Ridgeline is not going to be a big seller and its not meant to be. Its a truck for people who want truck looks without needing a real truck. For most people its probably all the truck they will need. Like the Aztek its ugly too which probably doesnt help it sell.

Anyways, this is getting extremely off topic, so we should just drop it. You aren't a stupid guy either, as you seem to argue with facts and reason. I'll take this as a friendly debate. I can see that it is a good vehicle, peray, but I still stand by my belief that it is and was a financial/executive mistake on Honda's part to build it. I guess we'll just agree to disagree =)

We don't necessarily disagree. I think Honda screwed up too, because this thing is not selling well.

They should have made the styling more traditional and let go of their stupid aversion to anything bigger than a 3.5 liter V6 if they wanted to do something like this. Less Element and more Pilot-like styling and a 4+ liter V8 would have gone a long way. The only place we might disagree is in that I think there is a market for this type of vehicle--- I just think Honda's execution wasn't quite right.