Toyota on Track to Retake Largest Automaker Title

With all of the bad news from Europe that we have reported on this year, you might be surprise to know that globally auto sales will likely be over 80 million vehicles for the first time ever. Leading the pack is a resurgent ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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followed by General MotorsGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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and VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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, which had sales within one percent of each other as of the third quarter. The automakers final annual numbers will be released in the first week of January. 

While sales in Europe will likely be down about 8% by the end of the year, other markets around the world saw increases including North America, Japan and China. 

Industry analysts predict that Toyota, GM and Volkswagen will be the world's largest automakers through 2019, but their positions in the top three will likely fluctuate. Toyota and Volkswagen are forecasting sales in excess of 10 million cars in that time. It would be the first time ever that an automaker has sold 10 million cars. Toyota will probably keep the top position next year, according to analysts, but in 2014 VW could become the world's largest automaker. 

China, North America and Japan will continue to be major growth markets in coming years. Toyota's Japanese sales have been up 41% through October, but the territorial dispute between Japan and China has caused Chinese sales to slump in the last few months. As of October, it was up 29% in the US.

GM's major markets are in North America and China now. American sales were up 3.5% through November and up 10% in China. However, European sales were down 12.5%. 

Volkswagen sales beat last year by November and sales are up 31% in the US. It is in a marketing war with GM in China to remain the top foreign automaker. 

Source: Automotive News