Toyota overtakes GM in Q1

Fortunately GM's Chevy Malibu is doing well...on second thought don't think the Malibu will live up to the hype. Poor GM. They better get the ball rollin' somehow. Even though the Volt will not bail them out and with the plant shut downs due to UAW strikes. Based on price point and the premium price on hybrids. The next gen prius will disruppt their sales simply b/c Toyota's will be a more fuel efficient hybrid, and the premium will be next to nothing based on their savings on fuel alone, and this is just the tip of the ice berg.

BigShow50,
How can you know the NG Prius will get better mileage than the Volt? No information is available on either car. Unabashed bias shows you aren't an enthusiast or even intelligent it just shows you are blind to the world around you.

CarGuy1,
How can you say that GM, Ford, and Chrysler know nothing about economy? The Cobalt XFE gets 36 MPG, which tops a number of imports, the Focus is selling quite well (no doubt to its 35 MPG rating as well). I am sure that they are very aware of the labor problem as is everyone who pulls their head out of the sand enough to read about the issue. As for quality and reliability, perhaps you should look up the numbers before you embarrass yourself any further.

"How can you know the NG Prius will get better mileage than the Volt?"

EASY.

the Volt is and will continue to be mere vaporware. it will NOT EVEN SEE production until TOYOTA orders Li-ion batteries in volume sufficient to bring the price down. (the only CURRENT car using a Li-ion pack is the Tesla, at ~$100k a pop.)

UNTIL that happens, Volts will not be available in showrooms for less than $45 - 50,000, if at all. and even this, assumes GM will sell 'em at a loss the first few years.

LONG BEFORE the Volt ever sees the light of day, toyota will likely have plug-in hybrids.

hyper milers also get 120 mpg out of Prii TODAY. in a few years, ordinary drivers may also approach that too (if not exceed it) with new toyotas.

ChicaneShooter,

Your making a lot of assumptions and to assume that GM won't launch the Volt ever is just stupid. GM is already testing the powertrain and charging systems in last generation Malibus. The Delta II architecture is being developed in Europe and the US with at least 1 test model being seen in the US. Safe to say the Volt WILL happen whether you like it or not.

IF and when gm produces the Volt, it will likely have conventional NiCad batteries.

as i said, the cost of Li-ion batteries make it simply IMPOSSIBLE for any volt so equipped to come to market at what gm CLAIMED it would.

even toyota is using Li-ion in only a limited production run, for the japan market only. (with a $10,000 premium for Prii with that battery pack.)

and ONLY toyota makes and sells enuff hybrids, to be able to cause battery makers to ramp up production to a level where prices can be lowered. it was an item cited right here at Autospies, which pointed out GM's DEPENDENCE on toyota, to get Li-ion battery costs down.

I wouldn't take the all of the blame for the customers or toyota. toyota did make reliable cars which put them to the top. GM and ford however, made most customers disgusted back then which tarnished their image. finally they put in more decent cars, but the problem is that bringing their customers back will take a lot of trust and yrs to gather.

Only you!!!!!!!!!

"Sales in Russia alone grew 78% and even in established markets like Europe GM managed to increase sales by 3%."

yee . becouse of Opel and GM Daewoo mostly .

A 2.25% gain overall is quite impressive especially when seeing Toyota brand had a little decline in US market for the last few months.

Just shows in other markets Toyota sales are growing Nonstop.

JUGNU

Let't not even bring up the difference in profits.

It's a non issue with the Japanese taking care of their health and welfare programs . They can concentrate on making cars instead of running a health agency . and oh, by the way get sick or hurt on the job in the plants that are in this country , you are out the door . Now that's moving foward and screwing America

Well Domestic auto makers said screw america a long time ago with cheaply made outdated cars while giving the rest fo the world their best and giving their own country their worst garbage they make. I give GM credit. 2 or 3 years ago i would never recommend an American car to anyone I hated, let alone a close friend or family member. Bottom line GM finally realized they need to get off their A$$es and make a quality car that can compete with Toyota and Honda and still be well made and reliable. Reliability remains to be seen but the Aura has done well and that is the car the Malibu is based on. Cars like the Aura Malibu and CTS gives hope that America can build a decent car that can actually compete with its rivals without all of the gimmicks, propaganda and bullshit advertisement gimmicks.

Nothing to comment about here. Toyota has earned it, if not for getting people to appreciate reliability and quality, then for GM and Ford simply paying the price for dropping the ball for so many years.

It will be interesting to watch how the next couple of years unfold though, IF GM and Ford continue to churn out quality hits, and Toyota does not continue to slip.

If both GM and Toyota were completely equal in quality and reliability, which one would see the higher sales overall?

it will be a long, long, looooOOOOOONG TIME before gm = toyota in quality and reliability.

1st 90 days, yeah maybe.

but how many people buy new cars every 90 days??? the only REAL figures of significance, is 3 - 5+ years. with regard to that, look at how many 3 yr old gm cars still get a CR recommend as a used car buy. (for those too lazy to check, NOT very many)

further, on their "Worst of the worst" used cars, gm models make up a full ONE-THIRD of the listings.

on the other hand, on the "Best of the best" toyota and lexus make up a whole ONE-THIRD plus.

see the other newer thread about disappointing volume of GM's hybrid sales.

granted gm's hybrid line hasn't been around very long, but i suspect people are also wary about LONGEVITY of gm vehicles. they may not LAST long enuff for there to be an eventual payback.

be quiet. ur making the more serious and less manical lexus fanbois look bad
r u a troll?

Well Obamma I hate to agree but yes the toyota would have better resale. Toyota makes a very good car but some of your comments are over the edge. i have owned toyota before and yes it was a great car reliable but very bland. Actually the most reliable car I have owned was my Totoya Celica and an 86 BMW 325es. the 325es actually had less problems becasue the timing belt and water pump went on the celice but since the celica was not a zero tolerance engine the timing belt breaking caused no damage to the engine. that was a wear and tear item though, so i could say the reliability between the 1986 BMW 325es and the 1992 Celica were equal, but Damn that 325 was a blast to drive, and the LSD rear made powerslides and drifting fun.