Toyota sold 5.02 million cars between the months of January and June, which is a 1.5 percent drop from compared to last year. Volkswagen took the lead by selling 5.04 million cars in the same fiscal period, Reuters reported..
Toyota said that its sales fell because of the sluggish growth in emerging markets and increased taxes on mini vehicle in Japan. Its earnings for the first quarter will be reported on Tuesday, as per the report of Economic Times.
The German carmaker has been aiming to grab Toyota's spot as the largest carmaker in the world by 2018, and it appears that it is three years ahead of its goal. But how long can it keep the top spot?
It's going to be a bit of a challenge for VW because of its falling deliveries to China, one of the destinations for its global sales.
"VW is snatching the sales crown in difficult times with major car markets in decline. They will need to withstand the slowdown in China if they want to keep the top spot," Germany Center of Automotive Management head Stefan Bratzel said, according to BBC News.
Its quick expansion also masked its less-than expected performance in the United States and Brazil. Volkswagen has been aiming to improve volume of the production, but it prompted a costly burgeon to the company.
The company now has 310 models and nearly 120 factories all over the world. The company size may also be turning into a disadvantage, as it formed a backdrop for a leadership crisis in April, which was chairman Ferdinand Piech was dropped following his public criticism with CEO Martin Winkerton.
In 2014, VW sold 10.1 million cars, while Toyota disposed 10.23 million units.
Toyota snatched the global sales crown from General Motors in 2008. It lost the title in 2011 back to GM after tsunami and earthquake, which affected production.
Toyota claimed the crown back in 2012, and held it since then. VW found its way up, but will Toyota let it stay there for long?
Third quarter is just around the corner, so we'll just have to find out.
