Volkswagen On Track To Be The World's Biggest Automaker In 2019

With only one more month to go, Volkswagen and Toyota are neck on neck in a duel for World’s Largest Automaker 2019, while the scandal-plagued Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi looks increasingly pale around the nose. Last month, we said that Volkswagen stood a chance to lead the pack after sitting in the #2 position for all of the year. 4 weeks later, it happened, and Volkswagen squeezed past Toyota by a razor-thin 6,821 units. Due to differences in methodology (Toyota reports production, while VW reports somewhat elastic “deliveries,” see caveat below) let’s call it even until the year officially ends.
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MDarringer - 12/30/2019 11:44:39 AM

-1 Boost

#MoneyOnTheHood
#CookTheBooks

USNA1999 - 12/30/2019 12:32:19 PM

+5 Boost

Yep, just like Ford, Hyundai and all the car manufacturers are doing including the Germans. It’s going to get better for the consumer in 2020 when car sales decline. Except for Tesla and maybe Ferrari no one will be breaking any records.

MDarringer - 12/30/2019 1:52:40 PM

-2 Boost

Tesla cooks the books more than anyone.

Dutchman - 12/30/2019 2:39:34 PM

+3 Boost

GM could have a good 2020. The Vette and Tahoe/Suburban are all new. The content in their cars is on par with other high line manufacturers.

TomM - 12/30/2019 3:45:28 PM

+2 Boost

Unfortunately their Crossovers are uninspired and underpowered. As they eliminate car production - they need better Crossovers to take more of those sales. GM has been on a push to eliminate slow selling models and slow selling areas. So - the once leader of the world is becoming smaller. Not wrong if they actually focus on producing better vehicles they still have - but it won't happen that quickly. For Example - the Cadillac CT5 - has POOR rear headroom - and that is a problem for China - where most of those cars will have a chauffeur - and the Passenger will not like hitting his head on the roof. Who makes these poor decisions? After all - the Chinese market is what they are betting the company on?

MDarringer - 12/30/2019 4:43:27 PM

-2 Boost

The problem is that the Silverado and Sierra were so poorly received that GM had to incentivize the living hell out of them and with the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon going down the same ugliness path, they will have to incentivize to make sales and that will numb profits.

Buicks are propped up big time.