Toyota tops in global vehicle sales, beats VW, GM

Toyota Motor stayed at the top in global vehicle sales in 2014, selling 10.23 million vehicles, beating Volkswagen and General Motors.

Volkswagen AG of Germany sold 10.14 million vehicles in 2014 while the Detroit-based General Motors was third at 9.92 million vehicles, a company record.

Toyota’s sales grew 6 per cent in the U.S. from the previous year, 13 per cent in China, and 10 per cent in Brazil. The company suffered a setback in 2011, when its production was hit by the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan but it made a comeback as No. 1 in 2012.

GM had been the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades until being surpassed by Toyota in 2008.