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Number of vehicles sold in U.S., by automaker

Data: Kelley Blue Book; Chart: Thomas Oide/Axios

GM and Ford may be making progress on electric vehicles, but Toyota became the best-selling automaker in the U.S. in 2021, usurping GM for the first time with strong sales of hybrid vehicles and SUVs.

The big picture: GM held the title since the Great Depression but has been losing market share for decades. GM's slide is partly by design. The automaker has discontinued a slew of passenger car models to focus on more-profitable SUVs and pickups.

Toyota ascends to No. 1 automaker in U.S.

GM had held the title since the Great Depression.

Toyota

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GM and Ford may be making progress on electric vehicles, but Toyota became the best-selling automaker in the U.S. in 2021, usurping GM for the first time with strong sales of hybrid vehicles and SUVs.The big picture: GM <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="held the title since the Great Depression" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/articles/detroit-seen-losing-ground-in-auto-sales-race-11641297653" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/detroit-seen-losing-ground-in-auto-sales-race-11641297653" target="_blank">held the title since the Great Depression</a> but has been losing market share for decades. GM&#x27;s slide is partly by design. The automaker has discontinued a slew of passenger car models to focus on more-profitable SUVs and pickups.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Toyota ascends to No. 1 automaker in U.S.

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