Automotive News reports that General Motors' global sales so far this year have inched the automaker past its cross-pond rival Toyota. The Japanese juggernaut managed to move 7.05 million vehicles during the the first three quarters, while GM sold 7.06 million.
Of course, this news does not come without its fair share of controversy. GM's global numbers include vehicles sold in China with its joint-venture partner, which some analysts exclude. Toyota's numbers, as well, include sales of Daihatsu vehicles and commercial trucks built by its Hino division. Exclude these ancillary figures from divisions of which each company only owns a part, and in some cases a minority, and the results might be different. Nevertheless, the world's two biggest automakers are neck and neck in global sales so far this year.
The story for GM was very different back home. In North America, GM only managed to move 1.2 million vehicles in the third quarter, a decline of 6% compared with last year. Officials blamed reductions in rental fleet sales, rising fuel prices and concerns about housing for the slump, but not having a decent small car to sell likely didn't help either.
Source : autoblog.com