Toyota Motor Corp., the Japanese multinational car making company, remains the world's top selling auto maker for the first quarter of 2013 calendar year. The fact is impressive that the company witnessed natural disasters like tsunami and earthquakes on its home turf last year. Following Toyota, the other auto makers are General Motors and Volkswagen. However, the differential is quickly shrinking as the Japanese auto maker is recording dropping sales figures in China and home market.
As per reports, Toyota Motor Corp., has announced that it registered sales of 2.43 million units during the first quarter of 2013 year (January to March period). On the other hand, sales of the American auto maker General Motors Company stood at 2.36 million units, while Volkswagen AG of Germany saw sales of 2.27 million units in the same period. However, it must be noted that Toyota's first quarter sales dropped by 2.2 per cent as compared to the year-ago period, while General Motors and Volkswagen saw their sales jumping up by 3.6 per cent and 5.1 per cent, respectively. Evidently, General Motors' quarterly sales results came within close to 69,000 units recorded by Toyota Motor Corp.
In the Chinese auto market, Toyota is suffering because of resurgence of an anti-Japanese sentiments among the local population. The two governments are having political tensions owing to a territorial dispute over some islands, which has resulted in a de facto boycott of Japanese cars in China. Toyota has affirmed that the situation in China is improving slowly but getting on track might take some time.
Further, the home turf is not particularly responding for Toyota Motor Corp. in a manner to its liking and advantage. The end of subsidies offered on environment friendly vehicles has nothing but hurt sales of Toyota's popular hybrid models, such as the Prius hatchback. The subsidies on green vehicles played a major role in boosting their sales on the Japanese soil, which explains Toyota's predicament.
Reportedly, Toyota’s China business saw a 13 per cent drop in quarterly vehicle sales, along with a 15 per cent plunge in Japan, as against the same period last year. On the other hand, the company's North American subsidiary is thriving with a 7 per cent rise in the sales numbers.
Speaking on retaining the crown of world's top selling auto maker, Shino Yamada, a spokeswoman for Toyota Motor Corp., was quoted as saying, “Rather than pursuing numbers, we try to sell one car at a time, producing good cars. We aren’t focused on being No. 1.”
