Every global automaker is facing sliding sales, employee layoffs and plant re-tooling in the midst of a massive and lasting shift in consumer buying habits (especially in the United States). Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) -- while not hurting as much as American domestic manufacturers -- has seen drops in year-over-year auto sales. Still, the Japanese automaker will be lowering purchasing incentives as it believes there is a recovery coming soon to its sales.

Continue reading Honda to cut incentives as it forecasts rising demand in 2009

Honda to cut incentives as it forecasts rising demand in 2009 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 May 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Toyota (TM) to shut down production for 11 days

Toyota (TM) to shut down production for 11 days originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Volkswagen says that by 2010 it can produce 10 million vehicles and pass Toyota (NYSE: TM) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) as the world's largest car company. According to the Sunday Times, "To those who suggest that closing a 3m vehicle gap (Toyota produced 9.4m last year) is a very tall order, company management explains that, in 2006, the number of conventional passenger cars made by Volkswagen and Toyota was fairly similar -- 5.2m for Volkswagen and 5.5m for Toyota -- and that the difference is made up by 4x4s, 'people carriers' and light trucks."

Volkswagen only recently introduced a full range of these multi-purpose vehicles, which will play an important part in its future growth

VW may find that things don't go as planned. As a new entrant to the pick-up and SUV markets, the company will find global competition for not just Toyota and GM, but also Ford (NYSE: F), Nissan, and Honda (NYSE: HMC). Most large countries also have local car manufacturers who may not be anxious to give up a large piece of their business.

While VW may have a chance to get a reasonable piece of the auto sales in huge countries like China, it has almost no market share in the world's largest car-buying nation, the U.S. Taking away business from a desperate company like Ford and a successful company like Toyota may be nearly impossible.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

VW tries to overtake Toyota and General Motors in worldwide sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.