GM may slip again in world rankings

General Motors, which lost its title as world’s largest automaker to Toyota just last year, may drop to No. 3 in the rankings by the end of 2009. And the new No. 2 may surprise some Americans: it’s Volkswagen.

R.L. Polk Germany is forecasting the folks who brought us the New Beetle and the Rabbit-Golf-Rabbit-Golf, Volkswagen will become the second-largest producer by default as GM’s output falls faster than VW’s. Polk sees a 31 percent drop in GM’s global production while Volkswagen will hold its cuts to about 15 percent.

Polk looks for global vehicle production to grow strongly over the next few years and reach a record of 70 million cars and trucks by 2012. Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has said it is Volkswagen’s goal to overtake Toyota and become the new No. 1.