Toyota Falls From Top for this year: VAG/Porsche becomes the Biggest

[Jim Prower]

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/aut...ls-toyotas-crown-as-worlds-largest-automaker/

he people want an empire, apparently, with that unassuming little black VW bug at the head of it.

The U.K.’s Guardian explains, "Volkswagen-Porsche has overtaken Toyota to become the world's largest car manufacturer as the German group benefits from state-backed stimulus packages around the globe." VW has "produced 4.4 million vehicles so far this year, outstripping its Japanese rival which has seen four million cars roll off production lines since January."

Ironically, VW reached the milestone in part by taking over Porsche – which it was forced to do after Porsche failed in an attempt to take over VW earlier this year.

"Of course," Autoblog notes, there is "some number play involved" in the Guardian’s numbers. "We're talking about the combined entity VW-Porsche, which has built 4.4 million cars to date, which is roughly 400,000 beyond Toyota's mark. However, Toyota halved its production earlier this year and shut down all its plants in February." VW also "benefited much more than Toyota from the European cash-for-clunkers programs," though Toyota saw more sales than VW spurred by the U.S. version of the car-swap program.

The news doesn’t just push Toyota down a notch. Jalopnik notes that VW has "passed Toyota and GM at the top of the heap." America’s largest automaker – the world’s largest just three years ago – now sits in third globally.

The change may not be permanent. The Guardian notes that Toyota "has the capacity to make 10 million vehicles a year but it expects to make seven million vehicles in 2009" as production picks back up. VW, however, may see its production increase long-term enough to stay ahead, or at least to take the title again even if it loses it later this year.

After all, Autoblog notes, "VW's also got the edge on Toyota" in the huge Chinese market, "where it has spent years introducing models."

Not that I'm particularly thrilled...two automakers I don't much like, a '50s GM-like conglomerate and an automaker that's quit making interesting cars at a reasonable price...scrapping it out for the top spot.

 

[FoolKiller]

This only matters to me because my wife and brother both drive Toyotas and I have a VW. This combined with COTY allows me to say I have both crtical and consumer evidence that my car is better.

So, other than an opportunity to tell my brother he can shove his Prius it just means that I know I can still easily order parts when I need to.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Well with my oldest brother's experience with the VW Rabbit, I'd rather go with a Toyota or some other Japanese car for my low price vehicle. VWs, and other European cars suck when it comes to electrical issues and solving them.

For some reason my bro's VW costs more to get an oil change than my mom's Nissan Pathfinder.

Either way I'm not too thrilled about either VW's or Toyota's model line ups.

 

[FoolKiller]

Well with my oldest brother's experience with the VW Rabbit, I'd rather go with a Toyota or some other Japanese car for my low price vehicle. VWs, and other European cars suck when it comes to electrical issues and solving them.

I am at 70,000 miles with only a couple of sensor issues cover by warranty.

For some reason my bro's VW costs more to get an oil change than my mom's Nissan Pathfinder.

Does the Pathfinder use synthetic or dino oil? And is he getting his done at the dealership? My dealer charges $98 when I can buy the stuff and do it myself for $30-$40 max.

 

[Philly]

This is great and all, but I'd rather see the total sales comparison at the end of the year. Anybody can build the most cars, but you can't sell them unless you earn the sales. Selling the most cars is what actually means something. And that's what I'd use to decide who is the biggest car company.

But it is good to see that VW is getting up to that #1 spot earlier than expected! 👍

Well with my oldest brother's experience with the VW Rabbit, I'd rather go with a Toyota or some other Japanese car for my low price vehicle. VWs, and other European cars suck when it comes to electrical issues and solving them.

The thing with VWs is that they really are good cars, but you have to be willing to pay for them. You'll get a better driving experience, and a more refined car with a bit of a compromise in the reliability department.

 

[homeforsummer]

Well with my oldest brother's experience with the VW Rabbit, I'd rather go with a Toyota or some other Japanese car for my low price vehicle. VWs, and other European cars suck when it comes to electrical issues and solving them.

Depends where you buy them. European cars sold in Europe are produced in Europe - unlike most European cars sold over in the States, which are usually produced in the USA or Mexico. I'd trust a Wolfsburg-built VW over one produced in Mexico any day of the week.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Does the Pathfinder use synthetic or dino oil? And is he getting his done at the dealership? My dealer charges $98 when I can buy the stuff and do it myself for $30-$40 max.

The Pathfinder uses synthetic. And my bro gets it done at Walmart or Jiffy Lube.

It's so much cheaper and more satisfying when you buy and change your own oil.

 

[sumbrownkid]

The thing with VWs is that they really are good cars, but you have to be willing to pay for them. You'll get a better driving experience, and a more refined car with a bit of a compromise in the reliability department.

That's one thing my brother's car has, and that is comfort. The suspension is so smooth compared to my other brother's acura integra.

 

[RotaryRacing]

their number 1 after toyota closed a couple of factories,toyota have been in a slump lately so i guess VW took advantage

 

[YSSMAN]

Its a lot more complicated than that, and I'd peg the single most important reason on being VW knowing what their customer base wants, and then making other people want what they have to offer. Although it is not this way in North America, everywhere else, they offer models that cater to such a wide variety of lifestyles and budgets that its no surprise that they are speeding past Toyota. The Porsche acquisition has added a lot of focus to a company that was once considered lost, which essentially has been the exact opposite at Toyota (ie, the GM-effect).

In my theory of theories, it will be Ford who will be blowing by both shortly. Shedding the unnecessary brands and focusing on their core products, not to mention what is coming down the pipe is otherwise an instant victory for the blue oval boys. If they can pull off the win in the North American market, its game-over for overall sales.

 

[arvin charles]

And VAG gets even bigger with the 20% ownership stake of Suzuki...

It's a great move to make in-roads in the Indian market since they're already doing pretty well in China.

 

[LittleBahamut]

It's so much cheaper and more satisfying when you buy and change your own oil.

I definately agree with the satisfaction of doing your own oil changes, but unsure about it being cheaper. My local Pepboys over here are doing oil changes for $19.99. Ever since my friends saw that ad on the building, they have never really wrentched on their car ever again.

As for the topic, I do feel that the Toyota line up have been getting boring. VWs lineups are starting to grow on me the more I look at their website and may even give VWs a chance later in the future