Toyota Cedes Sales Leadership to VW

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest carmaker by sales for the past four years, confirms its group car sales fell below Volkswagen AG’s total last year.

The company—including its Daihatsu, Hino and Lexus brands—saw sales improve only 0.2% in 2016 to 10.18 million units. VW Group—which comprises  Audi, MAN, Porsche, Scania, SEAT, Skoda and VW brands—reported more than a week ago that its sales grew 4% to a record 10.31 million cars and trucks.

Toyota’s results were tempered by a 3% decline in exports and a decline in demand outside Japan that nearly offset a 3% increase in domestic volume.