Toyota outsold General Motors in the United States in 2021, marking the first time the Detroit automaker has not led US car sales since 1931.
The Japanese automaker sold 2.33 million vehicles in the United States in 2021, compared with 2.21 million for General Motors, automakers said Tuesday.
GM’s sales in the US market fell 13% in 2021, while Toyota’s rose 10%.
The year has been marred by a shortage of semiconductors that are widely used in vehicles, forcing automakers to focus on their most profitable models.
GM spokesman Jim Cain said the Detroit automaker had a very strong sales year in the United States in full-size SUVs and pickup trucks as it has focused on profitability and, as performance improves, semiconductor supply, so will sales.
“If I were (Toyota) I wouldn’t run out and get a tattoo that said ‘We’re number one,'” he said.
GM said Tuesday that it expects economic growth in the United States to boost total light vehicle industry sales in that market, from about 15 million in 2021 to 16 million in 2022.
Automakers will report full-year 2021 U.S. sales results on Tuesday. GM has been the largest car seller in the United States since 1931, when it overtook Ford, according to data from the industry publication Automotive News.
Toyota does not boast of achievement. Senior Vice President Jack Hollis said in a statement that the automaker is “grateful” for its loyal customers, but that “being number one is never a focus or a priority.”
