Toyota Overtakes VW As World No.1 Car Seller

Japanese car-making giant Toyota overtook Germany’s Volkswagen in vehicle sales in 2020, returning to the top for the first time in five years as the pandemic demand slump hit its German rival harder.

On Thursday, Toyota said that the global sales fell 11.3% to 9.528 million vehicles in 2020, as compared to a 15.2 percent drop at Volkswagen, which is 9.305 million vehicles.

Automakers have suffered as coronavirus lockdowns have stopped people from visiting car showrooms and forced manufacturing plants to reduce or halt production. Toyota was dealt a better hand as their Asian market was less affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which isn't the same story for their American and European comrades.

“Our focus is not on what our ranking maybe, but on serving our customers,” a Toyota spokeswoman said.

As demand for cars rebounds, particularly in China, Toyota, Volkswagen, and other manufacturers are scrambling to tap the growing demand for electric cars. Toyota said that the ratio of electric vehicles sold last year grew to 23% of total sales from 20% in 2019.