Toyota to surpass GM

When you build a better product, it is only natural that you're able to sell more of them.

Toyota announced on Friday a global production target of 9.42 million vehicles for next year, increasing the odds that the Japanese manufacturer will surpass troubled General Motors Corp. as the world's No. 1 automaker.

The latest figure, announced by Toyota in a release, marks a 4 percent increase over the 9.04 million vehicles the company expects to produce this year and easily clears the 9.2 million vehicles GM is estimated to have produced this year.

GM does not give targets for next year, but it has been forced to scale back production recently, seeing its market share eroded by Asian automakers, including Toyota, which have a reputation for better mileage.

I drive a Honda myself, but in terms of quality, I think they're in the same league. You build brand loyalty, especially with cars, by making them consistently reliable. Honda and Toyota have done that. American car makers have not done as well in that regard.

If you build it well, they will come.