The Auto Writer

Although General Motors officials may downplay it, GM’s unexpected stay as the world’s #1 selling automaker for 2007 likely has a lot of people smiling today at corporate headquarters in Detroit. Toyota, which has been on a course to dethrone GM came up short for the year, though by just 3000 vehicles, the thinnest of margins.

The U.S. market has been a drag on sales for GM while Toyota continues to grow marketshare stateside. Indeed, Toyota recently passed Ford in total U.S. sales to garner the #2 position. GM, however, has been growing strong in overseas markets namely China, Brazil and Russia where double-digit sales increases are commonplace. 2007 turned out to be the second best year for sales in GM history, right behind 1978 when the automaker sold 9.55 million vehicles (vs. 9.369 for 2007).

Toyota says that they will produce five percent more vehicles in 2008 over 2007, while GM hasn’t offered a production number for the year. GM claims that they could have built more vehicles in emerging markets last year if they had the capacity, a problem they do not have in the underutilized U.S. market.

Both companies include vehicle sales through partner companies in their totals.

(Source: www.detnews.com)