Toyota Closing In On Ford

NEW YORK December 13, 2002; Dow Jones reported that cars made by Toyota Motor Corp. are outselling those made by Chevrolet this year and are poised to overtake Ford cars in the first quarter next year, USA Today reported Friday.

It would be the first time a foreign automaker could lay claim to the title of best-selling car brand in the U.S. Either Ford Motor Co. or General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet has been the best-selling car brand since 1903. U.S. automakers still dominate the truck market, the newspaper said.

"Within a matter of months, Toyota will consistently be selling more cars in this country than any other brand," predicts Tom Libby, an analyst with J.D. Power, basing that on the brands' sales histories since 1990.

Through November, Toyota sold 774,953 cars to Ford's 801,607 and Chevy's 682, 658.

Ford and Chevy couldn't be reached for comment on the sales numbers, USA Today said. Toyota spokesman Joe Tetherow attributed his brand's success to "core products, not niche products, that appeal to a lot of customers."