And so begins the age of Toyota...but all is not well in the car realm

[Joey D]

They're #1: In first quarter, Toyota tops GM as world's top auto seller

Source: Autoblog, Leftlanenews, AP

Autoblog
With the first quarter of 2007 in the books, Toyota has emerged as the world's top auto seller -- for the time being, at least. The Japanese giant beat GM on the global level for the first time ever, selling 2.348 million cars to the General's 2.26 million. This story is far from over, however, as we fully expect the next three quarters to turn in to a full-fledged slugfest between the two automakers.Toyota will continue to do what it's been doing and GM's global product renaissance will likewise continue to see more new and/or improved vehicles enter the marketplace around the world. Stay tuned.

For now, though, Round 1 goes to Toyota. Round 2 is just underway

Leftlanenews
Japanese auto giant Toyota surpassed America's General Motors as the world's top automaker for the first three months of 2007. For the first time ever, Toyota has sold more cars worldwide than GM.

Toyota sold 2.348 million vehicles across the globe, compared to 2.26 million for General Motors during the same time period.

While the figures only represent the January-March quarter, they show a trend that isn't likely to change any time soon. Toyota has been gainng ground for some time, and analysts have expected 2007 or 2008 would be the year the year it finally overtakes GM.

GM sold 9.18 million vehicles in 2006, compared to Toyota's 9.018 — a difference of 162,000 units. This year, Toyota has already sold 88,000 cars and trucks more than GM in the first three months.


Toyota experiences growing pains as expansion continues

Source: Leftlanenews

Toyota's rapid growth is wearing managers and engineers thin here in America, a new report says. And the same people it needs to continue its march of towards becoming the world's largest automaker are quiting in alarming numbers.

According to Automotive News, Toyota will begin to decentralize its management and engineering command and will expand its project management staff. Complaints from the staff include excessive overtime, excessive travel, lack of authority, breakdowns in communications between the field and command as well as a lack of balance between work and family.

Toyota has also seen an increase in highly publicized recalls. Most of these have been resolved, but complaints continue to roll in about V6 engine sludging, and decreasing interior quality — including cheaper materials and less solid construction.

 

[kjb]

It looks like Toyota has gotten a little sloppy in their quest for number 1.

 

[Jim Prower]

But they'll stay there a little longer, thanks to CAFE delaying the Zeta. I think they're on Toyota's Payroll....

[/grimly joking. Sort of.]

 

[Pupik]

Complaints from the staff include excessive overtime,

What's overtime? Oh yeah, that's what you get when you're not on commission and performance pay...

lack of authority, breakdowns in communications

Too much authority, and we get breakdowns in communication all the time. Such is work life.

...lack of balance between work and family.

Such is work life.

Toyota has also seen an increase in highly publicized recalls.

Oooh...50,000 pairs of console clips! Let's see any other automaker have a recall for clips that cause a loose center console panel that weighs about 5 ounces! And those seatbelts that take 3 tries to retract...fairly minor stuff. And those Priuses that might have a problem with the steering if the owner strikes a hard object and turns the wheel around further than the end of it's stop.

...but complaints continue to roll in about V6 engine sludging

...complaints from people who don't have their oil and filter replaced. Or don't change oil and filter at regular intervals (RTFM). Did tell you I had a lady the other day with 39,000 miles on her Lexus with no oil changes performed; we could tell since her "complementary 5,000 mile service" sticker, although faded, was still on her windshield...

and decreasing interior quality — including cheaper materials and less solid construction.

Can't argue much there, our Lexuses are quite stoutly built inside and out. But there are some trim bits and a lot more service bulletins that are starting to annoy people...mass production and/or cost reduction to blame, to be certain.

Things aren't too bad from the top. Although we're nearly devoid of sports cars.

 

[Aquendwato]

A good sports car is the only thing Toyota is missing really. There is the SC, but that's too expensive for most people and is viewed as more of a sports-luxury hybrid. And while Toyota's quality may be slipping (although the Lexus brand at least doesn't seem to be), GM's was never high to begin with.

 

[YSSMAN]

Its not a huge deal that GM isn't number one, IMO. With Toyota having the noted growing pains, they'll figure it out that it isn't easy being number one. That is, if they can maintain being number one...

Funny thing is that I've made note of the quality issues for months and months, and yet when I say it, its a bad thing... But when other news sources cite it, thats okay? Oh well...

We'll see what happens over the next eight months, but like the articles said, this is going to be a slug-fest until the end of the year.