For a very brief moment in 2007, General Motors was actually outsold by Toyota.  This occurred in the second quarter of the year, yet slipped back during the remainder of the year.  If Toyota hits its goal for production plans, it may take the lead again in 2008.

Is this a big deal?  Well, you may get different answers depending on who is asked.  CEO Katsuaki Watanabe at Toyota insists that they aren’t even paying attention.

As for GM, it has been the global leader in the industry for about three quarters of a century.  They have taken great pride in being at the top, but several senior executives at GM claim it no longer matters.  According to Bob Lutz, who is the Vice Chairman, it will help sell newspapers, but it won’t have an impact in their operations.    In fact, he claims that falling behind could be a good thing.

Whoever is at the top, one thing is for sure, Toyota and GM both make good vehicles.  Consumers are going to keep buying new cars, new car warranties, and auto loans, so they can find themselves behind the wheel of a new vehicle.