Toyota Motor Corp. may well become the world's largest automaker next year, as it slowly cuts into the U.S. and world markets of General Motors. (http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2005/12/20/toyota-051220.html)

How the mighty have fallen!

Toyota certainly deserves to be number one - their vehicles are stylish, reliable, and hold their value. When we bought a new car a couple years ago we didn't even think of checking out GM vehicles; it was import all the way.

Heard a stunning statistic on TV the other day. Financial commentator was on the Global Morning News here in BC and he said that GM was carrying 285 billion dollars of debt. Yes, he repeated billion with a b! I guess they have reached (actually are very far beyond) the point where their debt is no longer their problem, it's the bank's.

But will Toyota actually take over GM?

Do for GM what Daimler is doing for Chrysler...

Toyota will not buy out GM, no. Toyota's fear ATM is backlash from the American public. If it takes over the number 1 spot and GM continues to slide down the slope to chapter 11, Toyota fears that Americans will buy GM products to save the company, eroding it's sales. Right now, the feds have not interveened nor have they mentionned anything about bailout loans (a la Chrysler save - which BTW paid back the entire loan early!).

GM employs over 100,000 employees in N/A alone. That many layoffs at once would be very bad for the US economy.

Toyota actually proposed a joint project with GM for 'technology sharing'.

Toyota certainly deserves to be number one - their vehicles are stylish, reliable, and hold their value. When we bought a new car a couple years ago we didn't even think of checking out GM vehicles; it was import all the way.

Stylish? No. Toyota's are known for their blandness. They know it. The next generation will be designed to appeal to the fashion conscious. Starting with the Avalon and Yaris, the next gen Camry looks much better (and is even larger then the current car) with a nice looking interior (the Passat lesson has sunk in).

Stylish? No. Toyota's are known for their blandness.

It's all in the eyes of the beholder. While I cannot say every Toyota vehicle is stylish I will say most of them are - Highlander, Sequioa, 4Runner, Avalon, Solara, Tundra, and even the Echo has style (albeit not my fav). In today's economy it would be impossible for a company to potentially asscend to the top by offering products they themselves view as bland. But I do acknowledge that my first statement supports your view too ;)

Highlander, Sequioa, 4Runner, Avalon, Solara, Tundra, and even the Echo

Sorry, I guess i dozed off...what were you saying?

Don't forget the Scion and Lexus brands. Scion is freaking hip. And Lexus has consistently been at the top of the luxury brands, along with Acura and Infinity.

Heard a stunning statistic on TV the other day. Financial commentator was on the Global Morning News here in BC and he said that GM was carrying 285 billion dollars of debt. Yes, he repeated billion with a b!

Global, it figures! That is simply not true.

I just got back from a tour of Toyota's Motomachi plant in Toyota City just outside of Nagoya 3 weeks ago. (Along with seeing Mitsubishi, Honda and the last NSX's to be built and Toyota's largest supplier, Denso)

The Toyota Production System or as we call it in North America (Lean) is why Toyota is kicking GM's butt and will continue to unless GM wakes up.

The line was so clean and uncluttered it was amazing. The build was so engineered that not only did the line workers not have to wear ear protection they also didn't wear eye protection. I guess that's also because the Japanese are not lawsuit happy too.

The automation is not as big as you think. Mostly in the frame welding and painting of the cars. The line has around 400 people on it each with 55 seconds of work to perform therefore a car pops out every 55 seconds. They have Andon boards up high and visible to see what their prodution rate is against target and where there are problems on the line.

This along with their training, quality circles and continuous improvement are why they are creeping up to be #1.

If GM could turn their culture around to embrace Lean they would survive and continue to be #1 but I doubt they will.

Global, it figures! That is simply not true.

Ok. Seemed pretty high to me too. Here (http://www.askchriscarter.com) is his website.

Global, it figures! That is simply not true.Here's something I never understood: why isn't more made of the fact (maybe not by Global, but other media outlets) that one of Global's leading financial "experts" and "analysts" (Michael Campbell) is the FREAKIN' BROTHER OF THE PREMIER OF THE PROVINCE (one Mr. Gordon Campbell - drunk driving enthusiast)?!??!:confused:

And how the "criticism" of provincial financial policies has been so much softer since the latter took office....?

If "Billy Quinn", (hypothetical) brother of Pat Quinn, were to become the TorStar's Leafs beat writer and suddenly was fawning over everything Coach Q did, don't you think there'd be some questions asked?

Faston, it's a link to a website, there is no article or supporting evidence

how about some proof? What unqualified financial reporters need to do is read financial statements! Is it possible that GM has 285 billion of pension and medical liabilities? Possibly but thats not debt and it's a liability that is pretty much covered. Whatever the liability is I am sure that 285 is not the Net Present Value.

If GM had a debt of 285 billion, the debt repayment on top of their medical and pension liabilities would sink them.

Toyota certainly deserves to be number one - their vehicles are stylish, reliable, and hold their value. When we bought a new car a couple years ago we didn't even think of checking out GM vehicles; it was import all the way.

Toyota's are hardly "stylish" they're bland appliances on wheels. I'll take any GM vehicle before a Toyota...

I'll take any GM vehicle before a Toyota...

How about an Aztec? :)

I think GM and Toyota were the worst when in terms of style. That changed for GM a few years ago, and is changing for Toyota now, although a bit slower. There are many reasons why Toyota is number one, but exterior design is definitely not one of them. Has anyone ever bought a Camry because it looks good? :)

I bought a Sienna for a few reasons and one was because I liked the styling.

The styling on the corrola was a bit lacking and loved the styling on the new Civic so I bought that instead.

I will never buy a Ford or Chyrsler. GM I was open to but nothing fit what I was looking for.

I would agree that many of Toyota's cars are somewhat bland in appearance but inside I find them very attractive and the build quality is incredible.

I bought a Sienna that is still a minivan but it was a lot more attractive than GM, Ford or Honda's minivans!

The GM cars of the 90's with that damn plastic looking sidepanel with what looked like bumpers on the side were disgusting and IMHO their minivans and Aztech are soooo ugly.

Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder but quality is measured by how long the car lasts, how many recalls, how much it costs to maintain etc and on that score my only GM car was a piece of crap.

Judging by what I've read and teh resale value of used GM automobiles compared to the resale value of used Toyota's, I obviously am not the only one who feels this way.

the nickname for my Pontiac Tempest car was the gutless wonder. In the mid 80's, I had been driving a 2 litre toyota camry with plenty of power so when I bought the GM car, I also bought the 2 litre engine. Most dangerous decision I ever made in my life.

To pass someone I had to get about a quarter mile headstart and forget about trying to get out quickly and merge on a highway.

The GM 2.2L (not 2L - that was first year run only IIRC) put out 98hp (1989). The upgraded 2.8L V6 put out 130hp at the time. The 3.1L V6 was 140??

Pre '86 Camry 4cyl had 92hp. Post '87 had 130hp.

Scion is freaking hip.

The Scion, the xB model, is freaking ugly.