Volkswagen May Be The Worlds Largest Car Maker in 2011 - Eight Years Ahead Of Original Goal

So much for those that laughed when they announced they made a goal to be the worlds largest in 2008. I guess they got the last laugh. Lord have pity on the competition if they continue to make headway in the US.

Umm they've purchased quite a few brands to get to the number in the last few years.....it's not just increased VW sales. Toyota could buy Chrysler for $8 and have a huge increase in its "production"

@ 800over: What volume brand has VW purchased in the last few years to get to this number? I can't think of any and Porsche, if included, sells about 100K cars a year.

1911 - The tsunami only moved the timetable up a bit. They were already on an upward trend due to better placement in key markets.

800over- Expanding your portfolio is a way to get bigger.

I knew they could do it.

Being at the top ain't easy VW...careful what you wish for.

Why do people keep saying that as if its fact? The world is not just the USA. I can think of 4 brands that toyota owns not including toyota.

Ford just sold off like 4 brands & deactivated at least 1. You make it seem like it was always just Ford & Lincoln. Last I checked, Hyundai was doing a bit better than Ford.

VAG main automotive volume brands are VW, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, the others are boutique brands, not volume sellers (Bugatti, Lamborghini, Bentley)

Congratulations in order for VW!

You seem to forget that there was an actual part change associated with the Toyota recall, (accel pedal) as well as cutting the pedal down to a smaller size. Then there's the fact of most everyone else designing throttle-by-wire systems to ignore WOT demands if the brake is applied.

There were also the issues with Toyota V6 engine sludge, steering failures which were recalled in Japan (but not the US), Truck frames rusting in half, and numerous other smaller failures.

Futhermore if you're going to blame the media, make sure you fault them for portraying the Ford Pinto as a firetrap, when Rutgers Law review proved the car "statisitically average" for fires after a collision, and don't forget Dateline NBC trying to blow up Chevy trucks with bottle rockets and then label them "unsafe".

Boo-hoo Toyota, welcome to the way others have been treated for decades.

So it's OK that the media makes inflamatory leaps as long as everyone gets hit every once in a while?