Toyota took lead over GM in U.S. sales last year

　トヨタ自動車がアメリカ国内の2021年の新車販売数で、90年続いたGeneral Motorの牙城を崩し、首位になった。

　今日のGetUpEnglishはこのニュースを読んでみよう。

　https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/toyota-took-lead-over-gm-in-us-sales-last-year/2022/01/04/383240d8-6d58-11ec-b9fc-b394d592a7a6_story.html

Toyota took lead over GM in 2021 U.S. sales

Japanese automaker Toyota outsold General Motors in the United States in 2021, marking the first time the Detroit automaker has not led U.S. auto sales for a full year since 1931.

Toyota sold 2.332 million vehicles in the United States in 2021, compared with 2.218 million for General Motors, the automakers said on Tuesday.

GM’s U.S. sales were down 13 percent for 2021 — and down 43 percent in the fourth quarter — while Toyota was up 10 percent for the year. GM last had lower sales in 2010 at 2.202 million.

For all of 2020, GM’s U.S. sales totaled 2.55 million, compared with Toyota’s 2.11 million and Ford’s 2.04 million.

Last year was marred by a shortage of semiconductors used heavily in vehicles, forcing automakers to focus on their most profitable models.

　(be) marred by: ～に見舞われた

GM said on Tuesday it expects U.S. economic growth will boost U.S. total light-duty vehicle industry sales from around 15 million in 2021 to around 16 million in 2022.

GM has been the largest seller of vehicles in the United States since 1931, when it surpassed Ford, according to data from industry publication Automotive News.

Toyota is not boasting about the accomplishment. Senior Vice President Jack Hollis said the automaker is “grateful” for its loyal customers, but “being No. 1 is never a focus or priority.”

The Japanese automaker does not see it as sustainable that it can retain its U.S. sales lead and had no plans to use the 2021 accomplishment in any kind of advertising, he added. Toyota had been credited by analysts for weathering the chip shortage better than other automakers.

　(be) credit by analysts for weathering: ～を乗り切ったことで専門家に評価される。

　動詞weatherは「（困難を）しのぐ、切り抜ける」の意味で使われる。