Toyota beats GM in US

Toyota outsold General Motors in the US in 2021, marking the first time the Detroit-based marque has failed to top the ladder for full-year registrations in its domestic market since 1931.

Toyota sold 2.332 million units last year with GM coming second with 2.218m.

The American company’s sales in the US declined by 13 per cent last year and nosedived by 43 per cent in the fourth quarter, while Toyota’s total climbed by 10 per cent when compared to 2020’s.

For all of 2020, GM’s US sales totalled 2.55m compared with Toyota's 2.11m and Ford’s 2.04m. 

GM last had lower sales in 2010 at 2.202m and it had been the largest seller of vehicles in the US since 1931 when it surpassed Ford.

Last year was marred by a shortage of semi-conductors used heavily in vehicles, forcing marques to focus on their most profitable models.

However, GM expects economic growth will boost total light-duty sales in the US from about 15m in 2021 to some 16m this year.

Toyota’ senior vice-president Jack Hollis says the marque is “grateful” for its loyal customers in the US, but “being number one is never a focus or priority”.

The Japanese company does not see it as sustainable that it can retain its US sales lead and has no plans to use the 2021 win in any advertising. It has been credited by analysts for weathering the chip shortage better than other carmakers.

Jim Cain, spokesman for GM, says his marque had a very strong sales year in the US in full-size SUVs and pick-up trucks as it focused on profitability. And as the supply of semi-conductors improves, so will sales. “I wouldn’t rush out if I were [Toyota] and get a ‘we’re number one’ tattoo.”

Under chief executive Mary Barra, GM also has emphasised profitability over volume, exiting money-losing markets such as Europe and Russia, and pulling the plug on Holden in Australasia.