Toyota take an early lead in Global vehicle sales race

The battle lines are drawn as GM and Toyota square off for yet another year of who is the biggest and best. The first quarter results are in and a repeat of 2007’s performance is on the board, with Toyota outselling the General 2.41 million units to 2.25 million units.

At this early stage a winner can’t be picked as last year the General turned their first quarter result around and pipped Toyota at the final post – albeit under dubious circumstances.

GM is managing to sell up a storm through Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East with only the domestic North American market dragging the chain. Sales in the U.S. are down 10 percent to the end of March and even Toyota is feeling the pain with their U.S. sales down 4.4 percent.

So, we bet you are wondering what it all means? For the top selling company at the end of the year, it means their marketing people don't have to work so hard in 2009 - for the rest of us it doesn't mean much at all...