| In the global automotive industry things are really | | | | vehicles that carried substantial brand equity at one |
| heating up as the traditional players fight for a top spot | | | | point but failed as they became stale and irrelevant |
| in the race for global dominance. General Motors Corp., | | | | amongst their respective competition. If Honda and |
| which has been number one in terms of global auto | | | | Toyota can keep the Accord and Camry nameplates |
| sales for over 75 years, is fighting to keep that title in | | | | going after more than 2 decades, why has Ford had |
| the face of growing competition from Toyota. Last | | | | such a difficult time doing the same?The big news isn't |
| year Toyota was trailing General Motors by only | | | | just at the top of the list. Riding high on a global sales |
| 261,805 units.Though it looks inevitable that Toyota will | | | | increase of over 11% in 2005, Hyundai Automotive |
| claim top spot, increased sales in China (GM is now #1 | | | | Group is in high gear. The Korean automotive giant has |
| in China beating former top dog Volkswagen) and | | | | moved into sixth spot behind DaimlerChrysler. Since |
| surging sales in India have buoyed global sales for the | | | | 1999, Hyundai has passed established players such as |
| General despite declining sales in North America. | | | | Honda, Fiat, Nissan, and Renault. Hyundai doesn't plan |
| General Motors boss Rick Wagoner recently stated "If | | | | on getting too comfy in sixth spot as they've set their |
| we can keep growing where the opportunities are to | | | | sights on being in the top five by the end of the |
| grow, someone's going to have to hustle pretty hard to | | | | decade.They've got their work cut out for them as |
| catch up with us like that." That said, according to the | | | | fifth place DaimlerChrysler is currently selling about 1 |
| Wall Street Journal being #1 is no longer a top priority | | | | million more vehicles annually. But I wouldn't bet against |
| for Rick Wagoner and General Motors.Ford Motor | | | | Hyundai. In the last 10 years they've beaten just about |
| Company, once #2 globally, is in third place with sales | | | | everyone's expectations.Volkswagen is holding steady |
| at just over 6.2 million units. Strong sales in Europe | | | | in fourth place with over 5.2 million vehicles sold in |
| have offset a seemingly endless sales decline of blue | | | | 2005. 2006 and 2007 should see modest increases |
| oval vehicles in North America. Once best sellers like | | | | with the introduction of the next generation Golf (now |
| the Ford Focus and Ford Explorer now sit on dealer | | | | known as the Rabbit) in North America and new |
| lots as more innovative and fresh competition lure | | | | models such as the Volkswagen Eos.Although nothing |
| away new buyers. Ford would be wise to devise a | | | | is for certain in the auto industry, one theme holds true. |
| more coherent product planning strategy instead of | | | | No car company has an inherent right to the top spot. |
| letting great cars waste away without any clear | | | | It has to be earned through great cars and trucks. In |
| vision.This is quite evident when you look at the | | | | this list the big winner is the consumer.Peter Johnson is |
| recently discontinued Ford Taurus and Lincoln LS, | | | | the chief writer for and The Owners Manual e-zine. |