TOKYO (AP) – Volkswagen overtook Toyota in global vehicle sales for January-June, the first time the German automaker has come out top in the intensely competitive tallies. VW AG took advantage of the recovering auto demand in Europe where the turnaround has accelerated at its swiftest pace in more than half a decade, which managed to nearly surpass the blow delivered by sliding sales in China, the group’s largest market.
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Deliveries slowed down by 1.5 percent for Toyoto compared to just 0.5 percent for the German company thanks, in part, to an acceleration in auto demand in Europe, despite a slump in China, its biggest market.
Volkswagen has stolen Toyota’s crown to become the world’s top carmaker by sales – at least for the year so far.
Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models, made a big comeback in 2012, and has been the world’s top-selling automaker for the past three years.
In April, Toyota announced it was ending a freeze on building new factories by unveiling plans for a US$1 billion (RM3.814 billion) plant in rising industry power Mexico and another production line in China.
Toyota’s Japan sales, which includes Daihatsu Motor Co and Hino Motors Ltd, fell 9.7 per cent to 1.12 million units through June, the carmaker said, following a sales tax hike the previous year.
Toyota last year sold 10.23 million, but expects that number to drop to 10.15 million in 2015. The automaker has recalled millions of vehicles globally on fears Takata airbags installed may explode and send shrapnel flying at drivers and passengers. By comparison, the VW, Audi and Porsche brands combined increased sales by 2.4 percent.
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None of the major auto companies say they want to be No. 1 for the sake of prestige, but the renown is coveted nonetheless.
