GM’s Global Resurgence to No. 1 Symbolizes a Changed World: Cars

It’s not just Toyota Motor Corp.’s recalls last year or Japan’s earthquake driving General Motors Co. back to being the world’s largest carmaker. Nor is it completely to GM’s credit. What’s really happening is a historic shift in the car business.

This year, GM is poised to retake leadership as the No. 1 automaker that it fumbled away to Toyota in 2008 as the Detroit giant careened toward bankruptcy. With 6.79 million sales through September of this year, GM leads Toyota by 1 million vehicles. Volkswagen AG has jumped to second with 6.17 million vehicles sold this year, expanding faster than it had forecast.