We haven’t heard much lately about Tesla et al disrupting the auto business. Why? Global automakers, pronounced soon-dead by allegedly smart analysts and under-the-influence influencers, are still going strong. Worldwide sales of the top three OEMs have been up solidly throughout the year, and July was no different. Supply lines are flowing again, chips are being made, and cars are being cranked out.
World’s largest, Toyota Group, is chugging along solidly, up 5.5% in the first 7 months of the year. Expect a bigger jump in comping months. July production was up 10% worldwide, at home in Japan, production jumped by 22.4%.
2nd-ranked Volkswagen Group is putting the pedal to the metal to make up for lost sales in the earlier months of the year. Volkswagen deliveries Jan-July were up 11.8%. Volkswagen’s largest market China continues to be troublesome. Jan-July China deliveries were down 2.7%, July China deliveries cratered by 10.2%
Hyundai Group, up 9.4% for the year, continues its slow march towards the top. Little chance to pass Volkswagen Group this year, but who knows, maybe in 2024.
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