| In the global automotive industry things are really | | | | brand equity at one point but failed as they |
| heating up as the traditional players fight for a top | | | | became stale and irrelevant amongst their |
| spot in the race for global dominance. General | | | | respective competition. If Honda and Toyota can |
| Motors Corp., which has been number one in | | | | keep the Accord and Camry nameplates going |
| terms of global auto sales for over 75 years, is | | | | after more than 2 decades, why has Ford had |
| fighting to keep that title in the face of growing | | | | such a difficult time doing the same?The big news |
| competition from Toyota. Last year Toyota was | | | | isn't just at the top of the list. Riding high on a |
| trailing General Motors by only 261,805 | | | | global sales increase of over 11% in 2005, Hyundai |
| units.Though it looks inevitable that Toyota will | | | | Automotive Group is in high gear. The Korean |
| claim top spot, increased sales in China (GM is | | | | automotive giant has moved into sixth spot |
| now #1 in China beating former top dog | | | | behind DaimlerChrysler. Since 1999, Hyundai has |
| Volkswagen) and surging sales in India have | | | | passed established players such as Honda, Fiat, |
| buoyed global sales for the General despite | | | | Nissan, and Renault. Hyundai doesn't plan on |
| declining sales in North America. General Motors | | | | getting too comfy in sixth spot as they've set |
| boss Rick Wagoner recently stated "If we can | | | | their sights on being in the top five by the end of |
| keep growing where the opportunities are to | | | | the decade.They've got their work cut out for |
| grow, someone's going to have to hustle pretty | | | | them as fifth place DaimlerChrysler is currently |
| hard to catch up with us like that." That said, | | | | selling about 1 million more vehicles annually. But I |
| according to the Wall Street Journal being #1 is no | | | | wouldn't bet against Hyundai. In the last 10 years |
| longer a top priority for Rick Wagoner and | | | | they've beaten just about everyone's |
| General Motors.Ford Motor Company, once #2 | | | | expectations.Volkswagen is holding steady in |
| globally, is in third place with sales at just over 6.2 | | | | fourth place with over 5.2 million vehicles sold in |
| million units. Strong sales in Europe have offset a | | | | 2005. 2006 and 2007 should see modest |
| seemingly endless sales decline of blue oval | | | | increases with the introduction of the next |
| vehicles in North America. Once best sellers like | | | | generation Golf (now known as the Rabbit) in |
| the Ford Focus and Ford Explorer now sit on | | | | North America and new models such as the |
| dealer lots as more innovative and fresh | | | | Volkswagen Eos.Although nothing is for certain in |
| competition lure away new buyers. Ford would be | | | | the auto industry, one theme holds true. No car |
| wise to devise a more coherent product planning | | | | company has an inherent right to the top spot. It |
| strategy instead of letting great cars waste away | | | | has to be earned through great cars and trucks. |
| without any clear vision.This is quite evident when | | | | In this list the big winner is the consumer.Peter |
| you look at the recently discontinued Ford Taurus | | | | Johnson is the chief writer for and The Owners |
| and Lincoln LS, vehicles that carried substantial | | | | Manual e-zine. |