The Big Who? Toyota's Now Number Two

Remember when they were called "The Big Three?" General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler were once the world's three largest automakers and no one else came close. But oh, how times have changed. It has been officially announced that Toyota is now the world's second largest automaker, with Ford slipping to third; DaimlerChrysler was already out of the running. In 2003 Toyota sales were up 9.3% while Ford sales were off by 3.6%, however the final numbers were very close. Most experts have concluded that Toyota will continue to grow and could, within a few years, challenge GM for the crown.