- Volkswagen AG is on track to become the world's biggest carmaker this year, jumping past Toyota and General Motors.
- VW's sales should rise 13 percent to 8.1 million vehicles this year, while Toyota's drop to 7.27 million vehicles and GM's rise to 7.55 million cars.
- VW made the gain thanks to prolific sales in emerging markets like China, where it was the first overseas carmaker to enter three decades ago.
WOLFSBURG, Germany — Volkswagen AG is on track to become the world's biggest carmaker this year, hopscotching past Toyota and General Motors.
VW's sales should rise 13 percent to 8.1 million vehicles this year, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Toyota's sales will suffer a 9 percent drop to 7.27 million, and General Motors will gain 8 percent or 7.55 million cars.
Based on these numbers, analysts predict VW will move up from 3rd place among carmakers in 2010 to number one, thanks to great results on emerging markets and Toyota's proclivity for natural disasters, with a March earthquake in Japan and floods in Thailand that have Toyota suspending production at Southeast Asian plants.
VW sales in China may increase 20 percent in 2011 and more than double in India, according to estimates by J.D. Power & Associates. VW has worked long for this bragging right. It was the first overseas carmaker to enter China three decades ago.
GM is hot on its heels, though. GM, which makes Buick and Chevrolet-branded sedans with Chinese partner SAIC Motor Co., sells more cars in China than in its home market. Sales in the nation have topped 2 million vehicles in 2011, the carmaker said October 17.
All three companies have room to improve. Growth in the global auto market is expected to accelerate next year, rising 6.5 percent in 2012 after expanding 3.5 percent this year, according to estimates at Moody's Investors Service.
Inside Line says: The drive to be No. 1 just got more interesting.
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jrhoglund1 says:
11:22 AM, 11/16/2011
I was in mexico last week and i saw a vw crossfox, it would fill a market you need to fill... at this time in the us vw has 2 choices for suv, cuv. either you have 40k plus for the tourag, or 25k for a stripped down tiguan. ad a few options and this too goes over 30k...now bring in the cross fox starting at lets say 15k re: jetta load it up with options still under 22k and bye bye competition.
tbone85 says:
10:31 AM, 10/27/2011
VW is investing in North American plants because it costs less money to produce the vehicles in North America than in Europe. VW is "banking" on expanding their sales, period. Inevitable. What a joke. Based on sales, it really sounds like people are reading CR like it's the Bible. Most consumers are too intelligent to blindly accept the conclusions of a magazine that also ranks dishwashers (fairly well) or stereo speakers (even worse than cars). The sales numbers bear that out. Bad wishes from haters and good wishes from fanboys are inevitable, little else is.
mjonell says:
04:16 AM, 10/26/2011
Their yearly numbers are a bit incorrect according to the guys over at TTAC.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/10/top-3-automakers-2011-bloomberg-please-report-to-remedial-math-class/
It's ok, every other media outlet has regurgitated it as well.
cardesigner82 says:
03:11 AM, 10/26/2011
Things are not always great when you're #1. GM's bankruptcy, and Toyota's natural disasters to massive recalls. Besides, VW is becoming #1 because they are buying other companies.
timm2 says:
03:32 PM, 10/25/2011
This is totally debunked yet Insideline is still publishing it, here is the true math:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/10/top-3-automakers-2011-bloomberg-please-report-to-remedial-math-class/
Well why am I not surprised, insideline is heavily biased towards VW AG as well as its subsideries (like Audi etc.), so what should I expect?
qdp says:
03:14 PM, 10/25/2011
It seems to me VW is banking on the inevitable collaps of the domestic automakers, most likely GM first, to take over their customers or cater those who prefer European cars. The obvious move is that VW is investing heavily to strategically build more plants and expend existing production capacity in US.
Among the latest CR report on top 10 reliable cars, Japanese automakers take 9 out of 10 and, instead of VW, it is Volve that is only non-Japanese automaker in Top 10.
jm1212 says:
02:24 PM, 10/25/2011
So now that VW AG is the largest automaker, i see no reason that we should not have the Scirocco, Polo, A5 Sportback, A6 Avant, Q3, and the TT RS with the DCT.
tbone85 says:
02:12 PM, 10/25/2011
Toyota was # 1 for several years and nothing "happened" to them. Toyota has been hit by some bad press, a Tsunami, and most importantly a rash of boring and less competitive vehicles over the past few years. That said, they are far from "ruined". Must have bought the store out of tin hats during the clearance sale.
mbukukanyau says:
01:56 PM, 10/25/2011
GM will take crown back, eventually, between a global buick/opel brand, Cadillac and a full Chevrolet line being built and a sprinkle of Cadillac and GMC in key markets, Its going to be difficult for VW to hold on to #1...
jeremy_c says:
11:28 AM, 10/25/2011
VW, VW what u gonna do when Americans come for you! Look what happened to Toyota when they overtook GM and become #1. Americans don't like to lose the #1 throne, especially to Japanese and Germans. They will come for you with all their power and might and ruin you. Just wait. Runaway VW's!