Toyota has yet to report its volume total for last year, but last month the Japanese company estimated its annual sales at 7.9 million vehicles. That number would be enough for third place in the global sales competition. Volkswagen has quoted its 2011 global sales at 8.16 million, up 14.3 percent ahead of the brand's 7.14 million tally in 2010 and good for the silver medal.
It bears mentioning that GM's decision to report the sales of its Chinese joint venture partners as its own is a disputed practice not followed by some other automakers. GM does not have a controlling interest in SAIC-GM-Wuling, which sold 1,285,820 vehicles last year. Remove Wuling's sales from consideration and VW would be the world's largest automaker.
