VW Group Outsells Toyota in First Half of 2015

Volkswagen Group sold 5.04 million vehicles in January-June, surpassing the 5.02 million units reported by Toyota Motor Corp., Bloomberg News notes.

VW has set a goal of surpassing Toyota in global sales by 2018. Last year Toyota and VW Group sold 10.23 million and 10.14 million vehicles, respectively. Toyota predicted in January its volume this year could fall to 10.15 million units.

Both companies posted year-on-year declines in the first half of 2015. Toyota's volume, which includes its Daihatsu minicar and Hino commercial truck units, dropped 1.5%. VW's deliveries, which include Scania and MAN heavy trucks, slipped 0.5%.

Analysts say both companies are keen to maintain profits as sales soften in emerging markets.

Toyota outsold VW nearly five to one in the U.S. in the first half. VW Group outsold Toyota by more than a three-to-one margin in the larger China market, even though its volume dropped 4% and Toyota's deliveries soared 42%. Both companies struggled in Japan.