Volkswagen Passes Toyota In First Half To Become The World's Biggest Automaker

Zee masses vil have zee unreliable autos...das ist gut.

LoL! keep hating, I guess Americans love "unreliable" FORDS.

Just imagine if they were "reliable"? They would outsell TM 2:1.

@USNA1999 you're ignorant. The warranty incidence rate for a VW is at least twice to three times that of Ford, Toyota, Honda, or Hyundai all of who trounce VW for quality, reliability, and durability.

So what you are telling me is that most worldwide consumers don't care about warranty incidence rates. Because looking at sales numbers VW is trouncing Ford, Honda, and Hyundai. Numbers don't lie and they will be increasing.

The reliability story only goes so far. By the way, FORD rates lower than VW 99% of the times. "Consumer Reports' best and worst car brands in 2015 includes BMW, Toyota and Lexus in the top 10, and Jeep, Fiat and Ford in the bottom of the group." You are selling junk.

@USNA1999 you're spewing unsubstantiated bullshot. You're not in the industry. You're just a pathetic fanboy unwilling to face to truth. You are amusing for the utter ignorance of what you post. I will give you that. I'll send you a box of Kleenex so you can continue your love affair with VW.

ALL FACTS, just look at these links:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/02/25/jd-power-vds-reliability/23982237/

http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/cars/consumer-reports-best-and-worst-car-brands-in-2015-include-lexus-mazda-and-toyota-1.10387053

Truth hurts and you are the one not willing to accept the truth.
For someone who claims to have a PhD you are one DUMB SOB, LoL! What is it on, basket weaving? You sure don't know anything about running a business, no wonder you are selling Fords and not MBs, BMWs or LEXUS. Even better, TOYOTAS! By the way, its not a love affair, its giving credit where credit is due, something you detest giving to VW, LoL! VW and TM are the major auto powerhouses in the world, like it or not. And yes keep hating while both of them continue trading places as world's biggest auto manufacturers for the next 10 to 20 years.

This surprises me, because my understanding is that North American perception of VW is that their vehicles are priced high for what they are, and repairs are more frequent and costly than one would expect. Is this perception limited to North America.

The article's opening sentence says "Volkswagen Group surpassed Toyota Motor Corp.". I'm wondering if "Volkswagen Group" includes Audi, which in itself is selling well, and would skew the figures for how the VW brand itself is doing.

I would assume Audi sales are included with the VW Group stats. VW owns Audi, right? So...

First - Sales around the world are what is driving this statistic - VW sales in the USA have floundered for years.

Second - remember that MOST of the cars this number represents are either NOT SOLD in the USA - or the few that are, are only sold with difference engines, transmissions, and content. As and example - the biggest sellers outside the USA are diesel - which are mostly not available here.

Similar to most world selling brands - these cars are often equipped with engines that are far less powerful than those of this country - and some of these cars are really really tiny and really really slow.

However - it is ALSO a statement on the sales of Toyota and GM vehicles around the world that these three are competing for the lead in vehicle sales. Toyota cars are largely considered the reliable but boring option in most countries. ANd the problems GM had with OPEL during its recent bankruptcy - has left GM having to re-establish its European cars. For example - the Opel Astra - which is due for replacement - is generally reviewed favorably against the VW Golf And Ford Focus - but is near the end of its run - and will be replaced in 2016 with a re-engineered car that will be much lighter - and with class leading features.

@TheSteve it's not "perception" that VW vehicles are priced high for what they are, and repairs are more frequent and costly than one would expect but in fact reality.

Audi is NOT selling well in the NA market. Audi would have to almost double its sales to catch Mercedes.

Only we Americans would be surprised by this given how island-thinking we are, ie complete ignorant of the rest of the world. Our knowledge of VW is limited to Golf and Jettas whereas VW's extensive model line up have more models that serve Asia, BRIC and other developing markets. E.G. SEAT that serves Europe and Middle East, variations of the Polos that serve BRIC markets, etc.

Sorry but VW in Brazil and Latam is also indicative of poor quality.