Two of the big three are shrinking fast. One is shrinking more slowly. According to a new report, that phenomenon could mean that Ford might overtake General Motors as America's largest automaker in just a few years - something that hasn't happened since the 1940s.
Autoblog reports, "According to Merrill Lynch's Car Wars study, Ford's improving lineup of cars will be responsible for hauling the company's market share to places it hasn't been in many decades - namely, ahead of General Motors and number one in the U.S." All automakers have seen sales decline this year, but Ford's sales have declined more slowly than those of most of its rivals, meaning that its market share is increasing. "With its recent rise to 16.1 percent share, Ford has taken the number two spot most recently held by Toyota, and Merrill predicts Ford's share over the next four years will rise another two points to 18%."
GM's market share, Motor Trend notes, is expected to "decline to 15-16 % in the same time frame. Chrysler fared no better: The report predicts the automaker's market share will halve, to 6%, in four years."
Reuters adds, "Merrill Lynch also said it sees Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors gaining significant market share, about 3.5 percentage points, over the next four years, and Honda Motor Co Ltd gaining 3 percentage points."
If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.
