For the first time since the 80s, Chevrolet tops Ford in car sales

While Chevrolet points to clearance sales and quality improvements as driving the leap over Ford, some industry experts are blaming Ford’s poor performance this year. 

Ford’s U.S. sales fell to 2.78 million last year from 3.47 million vehicles in 2000. That was the same year Firestone’s recall of more than 6.5 million tires, most on the Ford Explorer, raised questions about the safety of the top-selling SUV.

Chevrolet’s stronger sales are a rare bit of good news for GM.

The automaker announced plans last month to stop production at a dozen North American plants and cut 30,000 hourly jobs by the end of 2008. The company has lost nearly $5 billion in its North American automotive operations this year.

But Chevrolet really isn’t focusing much on the #1 spot publicly.  Instead they are choosing to downplay the honor because industry analysts say Toyota will soon take the top slot. 

Finally though, some good news for GM, at least for now.

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