GM, Toyota Jostle for Global Sales Leadership

GM, Toyota Jostle for Global Sales Leadership

General Motors moved in front of Toyota in global sales in the second quarter, but Toyota, which beat out GM in the first quarter, retained the lead for the first half of the year.

This could be the year Toyota overtakes GM in global sales and production for the year. GM has been No. 1 in both for 76 years.

Toyota said second-quarter global sales totaled 2.37 million vehicles; GM’s global sales hit 2.41 million, lifted by strong sales in Latin America, Asia and emerging markets. In the first quarter, Toyota sold 2.35 million vehicles to GM’s 2.27 million.

That put six-month sales totals at 4.72 million for Toyota and 4.67 million for GM.

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.