Toyota remains world’s no.1 carmaker in 2010

Although 2010 was a tough year and faced with an endless series of recalls, Toyota manages to top the biggest automobile manufacturers in the world for the third consecutive year.

The Japanese giant has seen a depreciation of sales in the U.S. market, but has benefited from the contribution of emerging markets and growth in China. The world’s largest auto market has brought Japan a 19% increase in sales, however lower than the one recorded by rival GM, 29%.

In the course of 2010, together with Lexus luxury brand and its affiliates, Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors, Toyota has managed to tick an overall increase of 8 percent. Under these conditions, Toyota boasts 8.42 million units sold worldwide in 2010.

In second place, not very far away, is the eternal rival General Motors, whose sales rose 12 percent to 8.39 million units. Americans have benefited greatly from a positive evolution in the U.S. market (2.22 million), where Toyota declined to 0.4% to 1.76 million vehicles.

The top was completed by the largest European carmaker, Volkswagen, which ranks third with a total of 7.14 million vehicles delivered in 2010, up 14 percent from last year.

Christian Klingler, director of sales for Volkswagen, said next year’s estimated growth is of 5%. In turn, Toyota announced an increase in sales, with the target for 2011 being set at 8.6 million cars.

Source: AutomotiveNews