How Long Until Number 1? Volkswagen Overtakes Toyota For 2nd Largest Automaker In the World

Volkswagen has overtaken Toyota to become the second-largest automaker in the world, after reporting a full-year 2011 sales figure of 8.16 million vehicles.

Volkswagen is aiming to hit 10 million annual sales by 2018, and wants to overtake 2011 top-seller General Motors to gain the number one position.

Volkswagen sales grew by 14.3 per cent in 2011, up from 7.14 million sales of 2010. This included sales growth in the Asia/Pacific region, where Volkswagen Group sales were up by 19.8 per cent (2.56 million), as well as North America (up 5.1 per cent to 666,800) and South America (up 21.4 per cent to 933,400), contributing to a total of 1.6 million units.


 

OBSERVER1984 - 1/13/2012 1:44:23 PM

+4 Boost

May be now, but Hyundai is comming, Ford too and this year thre will not be n earthquake in Japan so Toyota will be back.

MeanVulcan - 1/16/2012 10:48:06 AM

-1 Boost

Toyota and specially Lexus have been on the decline since 2007, way before the tsunami. Lexus market share has dwindled in the US every year since 2006 and the recalls on Toyota have tarnished its fake image of reliability. It si fake because Toyota purposely covered up reliability issues with its cars. Now despite the resurgence of production capability for many months now, and despite incentives and aggressive marketing, it is not regaining its previous market. This is not suprising at all. Add to that the boring Toyota design language and you have two other brands taking over, VW and Hyundai. Toyota, your time has passed.

knowitall1985 - 1/13/2012 2:31:02 PM

+3 Boost

WOW!!! 8 million PIECES OF SH*T....

Agent009 - 1/13/2012 2:48:59 PM

-4 Boost

You obviously haven't driven a VW lately.

Willis - 1/13/2012 7:26:16 PM

-2 Boost

"WOW!!! 8 million PIECES OF SH*T...."


They must obviously be better cars then than Toyotas, even if they are "pieces of sh_t". RIGHT?

Seriously, cut the BS. If Volkswagens are so horrible, please explain why people keep coming back to buy them or buy them in the first place?

My sister traded in her Prius III a few months ago for a new Jetta TDI and finds that car far more enjoyable than the Prius ever was.

knowitall1985 - 1/14/2012 12:49:37 PM

+1 Boost

I was the GM of a porsche, audi, vw dealership. I didn't say they didn't drive well. I said they were crap. They break alot. I handled the heat...

CarCrazedinCali - 1/13/2012 2:57:45 PM

+3 Boost

who cares who is number one? all that matters is who makes the best recall free cars in the segment, and it is likely neither brands... big freaking deal if they can move the most metal onto the road

chewy - 1/13/2012 4:07:38 PM

-2 Boost

Funny you say that, a recent German magazine comparison placed the Golf ahead of the Focus, the new BMW 1 series, the Astra and a Renault.

bmwm6 - 1/13/2012 4:43:13 PM

+3 Boost

Chewy, in this autoexpress comparison the new 1 topped a 20 car field.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/274453/britains_best_hatchbacks_2011.html

Joe_Limon - 1/14/2012 1:18:21 AM

-2 Boost

Funny you say that, a recent American magazine comparison placed the Focus ahead of the Golf, Cruze, Corolla... ;)

pepito66 - 1/14/2012 11:07:27 PM

+2 Boost

VW keep the crown because Toyota quality cars is cheap and theirs design horribles.