Are you more likely to buy a car from the world’s largest carmaker? This appears to be the thought process of Toyota and GM – who have been battling for the top spot for many years – but also Volkswagen, who currently has much to say on the matter.
Since the financial crisis of 2008 and onwards, GM has been pushed out of position one by Japanese automotive giant Toyota. But following the tsunami in Japan in March of last year and floods in Thailand – both of which caused major disruption to Toyota’s manufacturing facilities – Toyota’s sales have dropped.
The latest figures tell us that GM’s sales, however, have risen by 7.6% - a grand total of 9 million vehicles - putting it back in the top slot.
But VW is not entirely happy with these figures. It says that GM massaged their vehicle sales by adding sales from their partners in China. If the German auto maker were to do the same (namely by including sales of MAN and Scania vehicles), then it would in fact be number one – apparently.
But does being the biggest mean you’re also the best? Does buying from number one mean you won’t have to call your breakdown cover provider as much as you would if you opted for the number two or number three brand? Certainly the top brass in VW HQ believe so, along with GM and Toyota, who will be looking to the Chinese and Indian auto markets for their chances of maintaining/regaining that much-vaulted top spot.
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