One Billion Cars

One billion. By 2020 or sooner, that’s how many cars and light trucks there will be on the road around the world. That’s one for every 6 1/2 people on the planet — and over 25% more vehicles than we have today.

For auto giants General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., racked by billion-dollar losses and slumping market share in the U.S., that milestone represents the potential for growth and a rare cause for optimism. But it also represents a huge challenge for the auto makers — as well as regulators, environmentalists and ordinary people trying to get from place to place.
WSJ.com