The International Hearld Tribune and the Asahi Shinbun

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-...512080252.html

Toyota could overtake GM as world's largest automaker in 2006
12/08/2005

The Asahi Shimbun


The Toyota Motor Corp. group plans to manufacture 8.9 million vehicles in 2006 and could become the world's largest automaker, a title long held by now-struggling General Motors Corp.

Toyota is expected to present the production plan, which includes vehicles manufactured by Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd., at a meeting of management officials and other senior members on Thursday. An announcement will be made Dec. 20.

Toyota has always been prudent when drawing up its production plans, meaning actual output next year could be closer to 9 million.

The figure this year is expected to be 8.28 million.

Toyota will also increase its solo production capacity to about 8 million vehicles next year, compared with the estimated 7.39 million for 2005.

Meanwhile, the GM group's cumulative production between January and September this year was 6.729 million vehicles. If that pace continues for the October- December period, GM's yearly total would be 9.089 million, falling below the 9.098 million produced in 2004.

That number is expected to shrink further in 2006, when the U.S. auto giant shuts down three major plants and other factories in North America and slashes thousands of jobs.

Toyota, on the other hand, has reinforced its manufacturing bases in Iwate and Fukuoka prefectures this year to increase production. The full effects of those upgrades will be felt in 2006, pushing Toyota's domestic output above the 4-million mark for the first time in 15 years, company officials said.

In addition, Toyota's new factories in Guangzhou, China, and in Texas will start operating in 2006, the officials said.

The Japanese automaker has projected its overseas production would soar by 20 percent in 2005 compared with the previous year.

Toyota does not expect such phenomenal growth abroad in 2006.

Yet, given the struggles of GM and the expansion of Toyota, the Japanese automaker could still capture the world's top spot next year.(IHT/Asahi: December 8,2005)

 

not new.

 

~Don't forget how you got there Toyota.
Learn from the mistakes of others https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=95472
and let your actions speak louder than words~

 

Yes. . . this is do or die time. A time to fix the mistakes of past giants, or to repeat the very same mistakes. . . I hope they don't get too anxious and commit business suicide.

 

yeah this isnt new, but I wanna see what happens next!