But curves were likely interbreed in 2007

Four years after Ford, Toyota looks good to catch up now with General Motors, and become the next year the first manufacturer in the world by number of produced vehicles.

The Toyota Group, which also includes the manufacturer of weight, heavy Hino and Daihatsu minivéhicule specialist announced Friday that its production volume should be increased by 10 this year, to 9.04 million vehicles. General Motors (GM), for its part, planned to produce vehicles 9.2 million, or 1.4 more than in 2005. The American champion therefore keeps his Crown for 2006.

But curves were likely interbreed in 2007. Toyota keeps the wind, and table on a new increase of 4 of its production, reaching 9,42 million vehicles. And beyond, the Group of Toyota City has build 6 new plants in the world by 2010 to meet the demand. GM, he made grey mine. The Detroit group, in full restructuring, has programmed the removal of 30,000 positions and closing more 10 plants in North America to reduce overcapacity. Many analysts expect therefore that its production is stagnant, or even decline next year. According to a study released late October by Bank of America Securities, GM would produce and 8.8 million vehicles in 2007.

It is that, despite all its efforts, its models were struggling to find takers. In the United States, its sales of the eleven months of the year thus fell more than 8, while those of Toyota rose 12.5. The Japanese group in full of the quality image of its products, and a range suited to expensive oil, with its Prius hybrid and several models relatively little gourmet in fuel, in the image of the RAV4, rather sober for a 4 4. GM, known for its large 4 x 4 and his pickup truck, cannot say the same.

In total, the Japanese champion believes that its sales of new vehicles should have increased by 8 this year, to 8.8 million vehicles, and still grow 6 next year. A growth which is based almost entirely on the success of the Toyota overseas, with sales up 12 this year and 8 in 2007. In the Japan, they are however almost stagnation.

In these conditions, except burst of GM, Toyota appears able to delight in 2007 the title of world number one American Group held since... Eighty-one years. "This is only the final result of what we have done", soberly commented Friday Hiroshi Okuda. Obviously, the CEO of Toyota wants to remain faithful to the tradition House of humility. Not question irritate the Americans and to generate new trade friction between Tokyo and Washington, as in the 1980s.

Above all, Toyota is indeed already the number one global automotive for years. Not in volume, but the profits and the stock market value. For the current fiscal year, ending March 31, the Japanese industrial expects an increase of 13 of its net income. It would reach 1,550 billion yen, is EUR 10.3 billion, equivalent to 6.7 of the turnover. Nothing to do with the billions of dollars lost General Motors.

On the stock exchange, Toyota beats there also his American rival flat sewing. The GM action returned 51 since the beginning of the year, the American leader is worth only $ 16.6 billion, against 237 billion dollars for Toyota. A difference of 1 to 14...