Volkswagen Overtakes Toyota to Become Biggest Manufacturer

Volkswagen has just pushed long-time leading vehicle manufacturer Toyota into second place in the biggest manufacturers list, based on recent figures released by the motor industry analysts Global Insight.

The Volkswagen Group became the most prolific manufacturer by producing 4.4 million vehicles from January to September, with Toyota making 4.0 million, third placed Ford with 3.7 million and General Motors just behind at 3.6 million cars, vans and trucks.

VW’s car sales were up a very healthy 26% in October and 34% up year-to-year for the first 9 months of 2009, helped greatly by the European scrappage schemes, and this has meant that the VW group has smashed its own target of becoming the world’s largest manufacturer by 2018.

A particularly strong line up of very high quality, excellent value for money, and high residual value cars has fuelled sales with the new models of the Golf and the Polo both increasing by over 50%. Volkswagen has also focused on growing markets in China, selling 25% of their cars there in July. And the good news continues into the Volkswagen Group’s other brands, with Skoda doing particularly well in the German market based on sales of the Skoda Fabia almost doubling over the previous year.

Toyota deciding to reduce car production by almost 50% in the first quarter of 2009 also helped Volkswagen reach top spot.

Volkswagen

Toyota