Ford has conceded that it is likely to slip to third place by US sales in 2007 for the first time since the Model T. Ford, which dominated the pick-up and sports utility market, sold a quarter of vehicles in the US in 2000. But rising oil prices and changing tastes saw its market share slip to 16.2% last month, with Toyota at 14.9%. George Pipas, chief sales statistician, said Ford's share would fall to "14% to 15%" next year as it cuts production and jobs to plug losses from pension and healthcare costs. Toyota is tipped to overtake General Motors soon to become the world's biggest carmaker.