Knowledge@wharton

Toyota officially eclipsed General Motors as the world’s largest automaker by sales last year but its strength is only relative: The Japanese automaker like its competitors is struggling against a sharp drop-off in sales and global overcapacity. According to Wharton faculty after years of conservative growth Toyota accelerated its expansion in the past decade making it harder to apply the brakes in the current downturn. The new market dynamics which coincide with a changeover in company leadership mean the road ahead may be especially difficult to navigate they say. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.