Toyota overtakes Volkswagen in 2015 global sales race

Until the end of September 2015, Toyota Motor Group sold 7.498 million vehicles worldwide via its three brands: Toyota, Daihatsu and Hino.

Compared to the same time last year, Toyota sales are down 0.5 percent to 6.77 million, Daihatsu is down 12.0 percent to 603,000, and Hino is up 1.5 percent to 124,000.

During the same timeframe, the Volkswagen Group managed to find buyers for 7.43 million of its vehicles across its main passenger vehicle and truck brands: Audi, Man, Porsche, Scania, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen.

Year-on-year, sales of Volkswagen badged cars and commercial vehicles are down 4.7 and 1.1 percent to 4.35 million and 321,300, respectively. Also down are Man (down 13.1 percent to 74,400) and Scania (down 2.2 percent to 54,900). Brands that recorded growth include Audi (up 3.8 percent to 1.35 million), Skoda (up 2.2 percent to 791,500) and Seat (up 4.9 percent to 308,400).

The biggest improver though was Porsche, which increased sales by 27.6 percent from 135,600 to 173,100.

Only about two weeks of the latest global reporting period took place after news of the so-called "dieselgate" affair broke, with Volkswagen admitting that it had specially designed software to cheat its way past emissions testing on around 11 million vehicles fitted with EA189 diesel engines.

The latest figures are a turnaround from the halfway point of the year. In July we reported that Volkswagen led Toyota by 5.04 million to 5.02 million vehicles.

The final place on the podium still belongs to General Motors, which has sold 7.2 million vehicles during the first nine months of 2015.

Compared to the same time last year, Chevrolet sales are down 7.1 percent to 3.29 million, while Opel/Vauxhall is up 3.8 percent to 864,338, Buick is up 2.6 percent to 852,289, Cadillac is up 3.2 percent to 198,993, and GMC is up 10.9 percent to 499,343.

The biggest improver for the General is Chinese low cost brand Baojun, which is up 235.5 percent from 189,857 to 270,488.