VW outsells Toyota in the first half of 2015

Automaker Volkswagen was the new number one in global vehicle sales for January-June 2015, outselling competitor Toyota for the first time ever.

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. said it sold 5.02 million vehicles in the first six months of this year, down 1.5 per cent from the same period the previous year.

Germany-based Volkswagen AG said earlier this month that it sold 5.04 million vehicles during the same period. Sales were robust in Europe and North America but fell in China, the company said. Its first-half sales were 0.5 per cent down from the same period in 2014.

Detroit-based General Motors Corp., the top-selling automaker for more than 70 years until being surpassed by Toyota in 2008, has not yet reported its sales figures for the first half of 2015. GM recaptured the number one ranking in 2011, when Toyota’s production was hindered by the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models, made a comeback in 2012, and has been the world’s top-selling automaker for the past three years. In the first half, Toyota’s sales grew in U.S., Mexico and China. Last year, Toyota sold 10.23 million vehicles, beating Volkswagen and General Motors. But it has said it’s expecting to sell fewer trucks and cars this year, forecasting sales will fall 1 per cent year-on-year to 10.15 million vehicles.

Volkswagen sold 10.14 million vehicles in 2014. VW makes the Beetle and Golf cars, and also has the Porsche, Bugatti and Audi brands under its group.

GM, which makes the Cadillac and Opel cars, was third at 9.92 million vehicles in global sales last year.