BRIEF // After 90 years of reign, General Motors cedes its number one position to Toyota. The Japanese sold 2.332 million vehicles in the United States in 2021, compared to 2.218 million for General Motors.
Quite a symbol. Since 1931, General Motors (GM), one of the “Big Three” (along with Ford and Chrysler) in Detroit, has been number one in sales in the United States. However, since 2020, the automotive sector has been going through some turbulence (Covid, economic slowdown and shortage of semiconductors) which have the consequence of affecting sales. Thus, GM sold 2.218 million cars in 2021. This is 114,000 less than the 2.332 million Toyota vehicles. Note that Ford has sold 2.04 million.
Also at the end of 90 years of unchallenged reign, GM loses its crown of best salesmen to the profit of Toyota.
The year 2021 was particularly difficult for the entire automotive sector, and in particular for GM, whose sales fell by 13%. In the last quarter of 2021 alone, they fell by 43%. At the same time, Toyota increased its annual sales by 10%.
However, Toyota remains modest and knows full well that it will be difficult to maintain its title as the biggest seller of cars in the United States in the years to come. As stated by Jack Hollis, vice president of Toyota USA, “(…) Being number one is never an objective or a priority”.