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Toyota Targeting 21 Percent Increase in U.S. Sales by 2008

How Many Years Until Toyota Surpasses GM as Number One Sales Leader?

Those who grew up in North America might remember back to the late 60s, early 70s, when a variety of small Japanese "economy" cars entered the market from a seemingly hodgepodge group of unknown manufacturers, vying for our attention and dollars. Few took them seriously at first, especially those automakers in and around Detroit who at that time owned such a large percentage of our loyalty that blue skies seemed to be in the forecast forever.

Now the worlds number one giant, General Motors is struggling to support an aging workforce being forced into retirement, and with that fat benefit packages
Now, while GM is still number one, Chrysler is no longer number three and Ford more or less lost its grip on second place, the latter two victims of Toyotas interstellar rise in popularity. (Photo: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.)
that were "negotiated" when the automaker was riding high on profits and didnt want to see any potential shut-downs occur. A similar scenario can be painted in Dearborn, Fords global headquarters, while Chrysler Group was forced to shape up long ago when it nearly closed shop in the early 80s and then again at the turn of the century.

Now, while GM is still number one, Chrysler is no
The Tokyo, Japan based automaker is targeting a U.S. sales increase of 21 percent by 2008. (Photo: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.)
longer number three and Ford is more or less losing its grip on second place, the latter two victims of Toyotas interstellar rise in popularity. But these two are not alone. Most manufacturers are facing looming attrition rates and would be happy just to maintain their customer base on a one to one basis, a scenario that would see one customer gained for every customer lost to a rival. Toyota, on the other hand, attracts six new customers to each one it loses, a staggering number that has domestic automakers, as well as some imports, in a quandary. Just how will they put a stop to this momentum?

Toyota doesnt believe they can, at least not
It is only a matter of time until Toyotas surge up the sales charts results in the number one position for automotive volume worldwide. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)
over the short term. The Tokyo, Japan based automaker is targeting a U.S. sales increase of 21 percent by 2008, according to Japanese daily Nihon Keizai in a report Monday, citing official company spokespeople. The dramatic increase will be due to the introduction of subcompact and hybrid models, stated the report. The newspaper report stated that Toyota planned to sell 2.5 million new vehicles in the United States in 2008, up from its current 2.06 million unit total in 2004. To show that its well on target, Toyota is targeting 2.22 million U.S. sales for 2005.

Toyota, which has been attempting to dodge a negative backlash of anti-import sentiment that has resulted from its positive growth and the downfall of GM, Ford, and in some respects Chrysler Group, only officially stated that its 2008
No doubt, surpassing Ford, the number two carmaker in the U.S., is also within Toyotas short term sights. (Photo: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.)
targets would not be announced until December of 2007, the automakers normal procedure. But with U.S. sales up 11.7 percent so far this year, and the future looking absolutely rosy for the cash rich company, it is only a matter of time until Toyotas surge up the sales charts results in the number one position for automotive volume worldwide.

Due to its popular new Scion brand and greater availability of hybrid models, such as the Prius, plus the new Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h duo, it is expected that Toyota will surpass Chrysler Group as the third largest automaker in the U.S. next year. No doubt, surpassing Ford, the number two carmaker in the U.S., is also within Toyotas short term sights.

How the tables have turned since the words "Made in Japan" cheapened the perceived value of any given product. Japanese vehicles also seemed inferior to those from domestic manufacturers or Europe, but now the Japanese stamp of origin carries with it a premium most are willing to pay.
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