U.S. auto market could look like Europe's down road

By Ben Klayman

DETROIT (Reuters) - If U.S. automakers want a good look at their future, all they might have to do is look across the Atlantic Ocean at Europe, where numerous rivals jockey for position at the top.

While the U.S. industry had through history been dominated by the traditional Big Three of General Motors Corp.(GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Chrysler -- now owned by Germany's DaimlerChrysler AGDCXGn.DE DCX.N -- that is changing fast, executives and investors said at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit.

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) already has joined the leaders, and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) are pushing to make it a Big Six.

"What used to be a bi-model market -- the Big Three and the Asians -- is going to balance out a bit," said Thomas Stallkamp, a partner with private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings, which controls several auto parts makers.

"There isn't going to be any one dominant guy, not even Toyota," added the former Chrysler president.

Through June, Volkswagen AG's (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) VW brand sales led the European market with a 10.4 percent share, while Renault (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), GM's Opel/Vauxhall, Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroen's (PEUP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Peugeot were all between 8.8 percent and 7.3 percent, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said.

Combined they held not quite 44 percent, with the next four -- Fiat SpA (FIA.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Toyota, DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes and BMW AG (BMWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -- totaling 20.2 percent.

In the United States, on the other hand, GM sported a market share through August of 24.5 percent, followed by Ford (16.9 percent), Toyota (15 percent), Chrysler (12.9 percent) and Honda (9.2 percent).  Continued...