Japan’s Toyota speeds way ahead of America’s GM
24 Jan 2014 11:19 PM GMT
The Japanese auto giant's highest-ever annual sales volume came thanks to a weaker yen as well as strong US and China sales, signalling it had recovered from a series of damaging safety recalls and Japan's 2011 quake-tsunami disaster. The figures beat US-based GM, which said it sold 9.71 million cars last year, while Germany's Volkswagen logged annual sales of 9.5 million. Toyota broke GM's decades-long reign as world's top automaker in 2008 but lost the crown three years later as the quake-tsunami hammered production and disrupted the supply chains of Japanese automakers.
However, in 2012 it once again overtook its Detroit rival, which sells the Chevrolet and luxury Cadillac brands. GM's strong results come after it emerged from bankruptcy and a government bailout during the 2008 global economic crisis.
Toyota, maker of the Camry sedan and Prius hybrid, also said Thursday it expects this year to become the first automaker to break the 10 million vehicle sales barrier. That growth would be driven by overseas demand — Toyota expects volume at home to slip 5.0 percent this year as consumer demand takes a hit from an April sales tax hike. Toyota has outmanoeuvred other automakers with a ‘comprehensive edge’ in product lineup, sales network and cost structure, said SMBC Nikko Securities auto analyst Shotaro Noguchi. ‘They have maintained that balance well, compared to its rivals,’ he said.
‘Toyota should have reached the 10 million mark sooner if they had not faced major negative factors like the impact of the quake disaster and flooding in Thailand.’
But he warned that the auto giant should not get complacent, adding: ‘If they only pay attention to production and sales figures, they could lose their competitive edge and wind up in trouble.’
The sales figures cap off an impressive comeback for Toyota, which took a heavy blow from a series of mass recalls affecting millions of cars that damaged its once-stellar reputation for quality and safety and led to US congressional hearings in 2010.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India crosses 15-million units milestone
New Delhi: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, the wholly-owned arm of Japan’s auto major Honda, has crossed the 15 million units milestone, 13 years after it started operations.
The latest 5 million customers were added in just 18 months after the declaration of 10 million customer milestone in July, 2012, the company said in a statement. HMSI attributed its growth to foray in the mass motorcycle segment - Dream Yuga and Dream Neo, which has found acceptance in the market.
Commenting on the feat, HMSI Vice President, Sales & Marketing Y S Guleria said: ‘Achieving the 15 million customers mark in such a short period is a testimony to growing customer trust on Honda brand. To meet customer demand and reach out to new markets, Honda has intensified its efforts to rapidly expand its network by adding 500 new touch-points and take its growing network to 2,500.’ HMSI came into existence on 14 December, 1999 and its first production facility at Manesar commenced operations in 2001. Currently it has three manufacturing facilities at Manesar (Haryana) and Tapukara (Rajasthan) and Narsapura (Karnataka) with the cumulative production capacity to reach 46 lakh units annually by FY’14 end. The company competes directly with Honda’s erstwhile partners Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co.
However, in 2012 it once again overtook its Detroit rival, which sells the Chevrolet and luxury Cadillac brands. GM's strong results come after it emerged from bankruptcy and a government bailout during the 2008 global economic crisis.
Toyota, maker of the Camry sedan and Prius hybrid, also said Thursday it expects this year to become the first automaker to break the 10 million vehicle sales barrier. That growth would be driven by overseas demand — Toyota expects volume at home to slip 5.0 percent this year as consumer demand takes a hit from an April sales tax hike. Toyota has outmanoeuvred other automakers with a ‘comprehensive edge’ in product lineup, sales network and cost structure, said SMBC Nikko Securities auto analyst Shotaro Noguchi. ‘They have maintained that balance well, compared to its rivals,’ he said.
‘Toyota should have reached the 10 million mark sooner if they had not faced major negative factors like the impact of the quake disaster and flooding in Thailand.’
But he warned that the auto giant should not get complacent, adding: ‘If they only pay attention to production and sales figures, they could lose their competitive edge and wind up in trouble.’
The sales figures cap off an impressive comeback for Toyota, which took a heavy blow from a series of mass recalls affecting millions of cars that damaged its once-stellar reputation for quality and safety and led to US congressional hearings in 2010.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India crosses 15-million units milestone
New Delhi: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, the wholly-owned arm of Japan’s auto major Honda, has crossed the 15 million units milestone, 13 years after it started operations.
The latest 5 million customers were added in just 18 months after the declaration of 10 million customer milestone in July, 2012, the company said in a statement. HMSI attributed its growth to foray in the mass motorcycle segment - Dream Yuga and Dream Neo, which has found acceptance in the market.
Commenting on the feat, HMSI Vice President, Sales & Marketing Y S Guleria said: ‘Achieving the 15 million customers mark in such a short period is a testimony to growing customer trust on Honda brand. To meet customer demand and reach out to new markets, Honda has intensified its efforts to rapidly expand its network by adding 500 new touch-points and take its growing network to 2,500.’ HMSI came into existence on 14 December, 1999 and its first production facility at Manesar commenced operations in 2001. Currently it has three manufacturing facilities at Manesar (Haryana) and Tapukara (Rajasthan) and Narsapura (Karnataka) with the cumulative production capacity to reach 46 lakh units annually by FY’14 end. The company competes directly with Honda’s erstwhile partners Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co.
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