America's Top 6 Automakers

Hold on a minute – there are only three American automakers, right? Well, yes. However, if you include those foreign brands which have assembly plants based in the US, then that number is far larger. Indeed, there are at least a dozen automobile companies manufacturing cars in the US from General Motors all the way down to Subaru.

Of the car companies with a US presence, six comprise what automotive analysts call the “Big Six” car companies, three of which are home grown while three more are headquartered in Japan. In order of 2008 sales, the following is the ranking of the six manufacturers:

General Motors --  Long the global sales champ, GM now must be content to lead US sales. However, Toyota has been gaining of late and could eventually overtake GM. What does that say about the world of cars when your biggest retailer is from overseas?

Toyota – Inasmuch as Toyota is closing the gap with GM, the automaker was shocked when its US sales dropped by 400,000 units last year. Still, Toyota managed to increase market share in 2008 and managed to further distance itself from Ford.

Ford – America's second largest manufacturer is holding on tightly to the #3 spot far out pacing Chrysler by some 540,000 units. With new cars coming out in the Spring, will Ford be able to close the gap with Toyota? Probably not, but they could snag sales away from Chrysler and GM.

Chrysler – Losing 30% of its sales last year has hurt America's #3 automaker. In just one year, Chrysler's edge over Honda shrunk by 500,000 units to where it's hold on fourth place is by just 25,000 units. Look for Honda to surpass Chrysler this Spring as the Honda Insight comes to market and Chrysler continues to cut production.

Honda – By February, Honda should displace Chrysler even though the Japanese automaker will see a sales decline for at least the first half of 2009. But, Honda's decline will not be as precipitous as Chrysler's giving the Japanese automaker a firm hold on the fourth spot.

Nissan – Well behind the pack but well ahead of everyone else, Nissan's position as the sixth automotive maker will likely continue for several more years. The combined Hyundai/Kia entity is gaining while Volkswagen would like to triple its sales to one million units within ten years time. Whatever happens, don't look for Nissan to hold still.

Regardless of what happens in 2009, more changes will shake up the Big Six resulting in one of several scenarios playing out. Chrysler could be folded into GM while other mergers could redefine the global automobile landscape by 2010. In any case, consumers will likely continue to have some great choices as the world manufacturers design and build sites to the liking of American consumers.