Interesting take on sales
Interesting take on sales numbers. The reality is that Toyota is aiming at moving 120,000 units per year which will always be considered a "bit player" by the Big 3 fan boys. Yet, that doesn't matter to Toyota. They look at the numbers differently. They look at market share. If you compare their compact car sales numbers to their truck sales, they are at around 17 percent in both segments. That is HUGE for Toyota.
Also, Toyota simply won't catch the other makers in total volume because they can't. GM and Ford both have 3 production plants, Ram has 2 and Toyota has 1 (or 1/2 for the full-size truck). Toyota would have to invest another 3-5 billion to catch up. For what? Bragging rights? Nah. They build a great truck and they are happy with that.
A note on the GM truck sales drop. This is due to two reasons. First, they are having third-party supplier problems that are limiting their production. The truth is that the booming truck sales is really causing a parts crunch. Second, they are screwing with their prices which is pissing off everyone. Their pricing strategy was to set a lower price for the truck's introduction and then raise months after. That is simply a poor way to conduct business in the truck segment. Lastly, as much as critics call foul over the "all-new" Tundra, the same argument can be made on the new GM twins. They changed the interior/slightly changed exterior (same as Toyota). The only new thing they have done is introduce the EcoTec engine. Frankly, it is the same push rod technology they have had for a while just cast in aluminum (see: big deal, not really).
My two cents.