It's another sign of the new normal that several automakers now have a chance to capture the global sales crown. Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG are legitimate contenders.
Competition is good if it drives automakers to improve their products, processes and people.
But when GM was No. 1, its fixation on market share at the expense of profit led to bankruptcy. And Toyota's drive to overtake GM led to procedural shortcuts and safety problems.
The goal must be to make great cars and trucks of the utmost quality and appeal at the highest value. Being No. 1 should be a consequence of meeting that goal, not the goal itself.
