Interesting questions about the car market in 2012

Ended in 2011 with mixed feelings, turned in 2012, the world's auto market will undoubtedly have a certain disturbance, when firms are hatched the plan to separate promising.

Coming in 2011 ended with mixed emotions. While Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan afflicted with catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis and severe floods, the other brand names such as Hyundai, Kia or General Motors to see it as a good time to rise powerful.

Entering 2012, the world's auto market will undoubtedly have a certain disturbance, when firms are hatched the plan to separate promising. Here are eight interesting questions about the car market in 2012 with the most reasonable answer.

1. Big Three began to lose market share?

Ended in 2011, the market share of the Big Three (including General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) remained stable. Big Three have benefited greatly from the other Japanese carmakers heavily affected by natural disasters.

However, in 2012 will certainly be a change. In addition to Toyota and Honda efforts back, Nissan also aims to increase 10% market share to rise to No. 4 in U.S. sales. Besides, other names are also emerging strongly. Hyundai and Kia ranked No. 6 and 7 in the list of most popular brands, Lexus sold outperformed the Buick, Cadillac and Lincoln. Volkswagen offers its ambition to become the world's No. 1 car in 2018 is also noteworthy products and popular.

2. Toyota will return?

Suffered severely by natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, floods), problems and financial recovery (strong yen), Toyota has gone through a terrible year. In 2012, Toyota aims to increase sales 24% to about 8.48 million vehicles. Toyota was ready to reclaim its crown which has been in the period 2008-2010.

If you achieve this goal, Toyota will break a record 8.43 million vehicles, but they set up in 2007. Plan of the Japanese car company in 2013 for even more ambitious, with total sales expected to rise to 8.95 million vehicles. Toyota said it would add inventory and increase capacity at plants in China and Brazil to meet market demand.

However, to achieve the above objectives is not easy. He said Kohei Takahashi, an analyst at JP Morgan Chase in Tokyo, Toyota sales forecast that is higher than his prediction. He does not believe they can achieve this goal, because the yen is appreciating, and soon Toyota will not profit from the export of automobiles.

3. Chrysler continued success?

Chrysler is going through the beautiful May day, when the continuous growth in sales. However, the question is whether Chrysler can continue to be successful when it had few models for 2012, while other competitors are very diverse product. In addition, they must also mention the CEO Sergio Marchionne to be distracted by the problems in Europe's Fiat.

4. The Americans would prefer a small car?

Pickup lines to large and mid-size sedan continues to dominate the list of best-selling car in America, despite significant competition from small cars like the Chevy Cruze and the Ford Focus. Despite high gasoline prices combined with the emission standards more stringent, but it seems that American consumers will still keep the habit of using the car capital.

5. The company would damage the Chinese market decline?

GM and Volkswagen are the two major Western manufacturers in China, while the German luxury brand based in China for growth. So when the Chinese market slowdown, most big name car industry will be affected, though.

6. Opel will go?

GM, the company was trying to sell Opel cars in 2009, is trying to restructure the brand. However, things were not easy. With a market share of around 8%, Opel is not enough to compete with Volkswagen in the European market. So the future of Opel will still rising from everywhere and blurred the Opel labor force will continue to live in fear of losing their jobs at any time.

7. 2013 Ford Fusion will be the Car of the Year?

Fusion is one of the most popular cars in the U.S. market, Ford should be very interested in developing this model. Most likely 2013 version will be made by One Ford strategy, that is to appear in many different markets. Fusion is expected to set new standards in terms of fuel economy, and become the car of the year.

8. When Alan Mulally retirement?

Under the plan, Alan Mulally will retire in two years. This will cause no small disturbance in the Ford group. Currently, Ford has also begun to find a replacement CEO is talented.

Alan Mulally, 66, left the executive branch location commercial aircraft that he had a strong attachment to the early years at Boeing for Ford in 2006. At that time, Ford is in the worst condition in the "three giants" American cars. However, with the participation of Mulally, the landscape has changed.

Under the leadership of CEO Alan Mulally, Ford has sold the assets are not really important for the future survival of the group, such as Jaguar, and put the focus on the Ford brand development, with some samples New vehicles like the Fusion hybrid, the new Taurus and Fiesta.

Thanks to the role of Mulally, Ford has overcome the crisis without the help from the government like GM or Chrysler.

In 2009, Ford $ 2.7 billion net profit, a big step for this company, because the previous year, they lost nearly $ 15 billion. In 2010, Ford is doing better than the profit of USD 6.6 billion.

2011 will continue to be a successful year for Ford, when the vehicle's key is always high turnover of F-Series, Fiesta or Escape.

Ford has achieved 10 consecutive quarters of profitability, including 1.65 billion in the third quarter of 2011 net profit this year.