The US helped with strong truck sales for Toyota.
Toyota Motor Corporation retained its Number One global sales lead over a formidable and expanding Volkswagen Group by selling 5.1 million vehicles through the first two quarters of 2014. Volkswagen Group sold 5.07 million vehicles, while General Motors Company, with its top management distracted and consumed by the ongoing killer ignition switch tragedy / fiasco, sold to 4.92 million vehicles as its European and South American operations posted declines.
It was the latest setback for GM, which reported dismal Q2 earnings of $200 million, or $0.11 per diluted common share after taking charges for recalling 29 million vehicles – thus far – this year. One year earlier, GM earned $1.2 billion or $0.75 per diluted share. (Ford Motor made $2.6 billion in Q2.) GM delivered 2.5 million vehicles during Q2, the same as one year ago in a recovering market. GM’s global market share was down -0.3% at 11.3%. (GM Q2 Flops with $200 Million Net Income. Stockholders Whacked with $1.2 Billion in Recall Charges)
Toyota and Volkswagen are predicting more than 10 million shipments for each group during 2014.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
