GM is back on top of the world
GM sales rose 8.9% to 4.536 million vehicles, outpacing VW's 4.13 million.
Toyota not only lost its top spot in the first six months of this year, but disruptions to its production due to the earthquake and tsunami led to a 23 percent drop in sales, and it fell behind the Volkswagen Group in third place in the world.
GM sales rose 8.9% to 4.536 million vehicles, ahead of 4.13 million VW vehicles and 3.71 million vehicles with Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu or Hino badges. The strength of the yen is also affecting the profits of Japanese automakers. Nissan announced this week that it intends to cut exports to try and limit the impact of the currency.
The Wall Street Journal notes that Nissan plans to maintain 600,000 million vehicles a year, but plans to sell 460,000 of them domestically. This contrasts with local sales of 31XNUMX for the year ending March XNUMX (Japan's fiscal year).
According to the WSJ, Nissan has the highest export position of any Japanese automaker, with 60% of products made in Japan being exported in the first six months of the year. At the same time, Toyota shipped 56% of locally produced vehicles abroad, while Honda and Suzuki exported 37% and 28% respectively.
The news is better for the Germans, where Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz posted record first-half results.
BMW leads with 18 percent growth to 833,366 652,970 vehicles, Audi has 610,931 5 and Benz has 3 6. Beemers' growth was driven by demand for new 8 Series and XNUMX models, mainly in Asia, in a market where cars long wheelbase models such as the Audi AXNUMXL and AXNUMXL are popular upmarket models.
Growing global recognition of Hyundai and Kia products propelled the automotive group to fifth place in the sales charts. The South Korean duo sold 3.19 million vehicles in the first six months of 2011, recording a record growth rate of 15.9%.
The popularity of models such as the Sonata, good price and quality competitiveness, and a dramatic improvement in the brand's image have contributed to increased sales,” a Hyundai Motor Group spokesperson said in a press release.
