Toyota overtakes Volkswagen to top world car sales list



TOKYO: -- Toyota has taken over from Volkswagen as the world’s number one car manufacturer in terms of sales.

As the diesel emissions scandal hit the German carmaker, its Japanese rival regained the top spot it had previously held for three years – but had lost in the first six months of this year.

In the nine months to the end of September, Toyota said it sold 7.49 million vehicles.

Volkswagen reported 7.43 million sales earlier in the month. Both companies’ sales declined by 1.5 percent on the same period last year.

In third place, General Motors reported sales of 7.2 million vehicles, a decline of 1.9 percent.

In the first six months of 2015 Toyota’s sales lagged slightly behind those of VW. The Japanese group is now tipped to be the bestseller for the year as a whole. It plans to take on an extra 1,400 workers in Japan to boost production of new and revamped models.

Volkswagen’s sales figures cover less than two weeks of the immediate period following the revelation that VW had cheated regulators about pollution levels – so the impact was minimal.

Analysts expect VW’s gloom to set in more substantially in the fourth quarter.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-10-27

This does not say anything about service, reliability, economy, or after sales market for accessories.

I should worry.

Do I recall reading that Honda had already overtaken Toyota as top seller in Thailand?

I have a 10 yo Toyota Virus ( they get everywhere ) Brake light switch failed one night and a new one and fitting cost 350B.. An all round good car , please read this Mr Toyota it will make you happy enough to send me a new one.

Is his really surprising? VW will survive but it will take years to happen.remember Audi's unintentional accelerating problem? Nearly killed the firm but has risen from the ashes quite well