Toyota took over as global sales leader in 2020 and has stayed on top ever since. Full-year 2025 figures still have not dropped, yet celebration already feels earned. Volkswagen Group said this week it delivered 8.98 million vehicles worldwide last year. That total sits behind Toyota’s January to November count, leaving little doubt about which name will wear the crown again.
Across the first 11 months of 2025, Toyota and its Lexus, Daihatsu, and Hino subsidiaries moved 10,327,976 vehicles, up 4.8 percent versus the same stretch of 2024. December numbers arrive soon and should only stretch the gap. Volkswagen Group slipped 0.5 percent, while Volkswagen brand volume fell 1.4 percent to 4.73 million vehicles. Audi also slid 2.9 percent to 1,623,551 units.
Looking ahead, Toyota has more than momentum on its side. A new Hilux is coming, and an affordable Land Cruiser FJ is also on the horizon. For 2026, availability broadens with the sixth-generation RAV4 entering its first full year on sale. China also gets a value-focused twist, with a cheaper Wildlander sibling joining the lineup.
Over in Volkswagen land, plans stay busy. ID. Polo launches as a new entry-level EV for Europe, with pricing set from under €25,000. A crossover version follows before year’s end, aimed at a make-or-break segment. Fresh updates arrive in 2026 for ID.3 and ID.4. China also sees ID. Era 9X, revealed this week as VW’s first range-extending EV.
As Toyota and Volkswagen Group trade blows at the top, Hyundai and Kia keep climbing worldwide. Combined volume for the South Korean pair rose 0.6 percent year over year to 7.27 million vehicles, locking down third place. Ambition stays clear for 2026, with a target of 7.51 million sales. Momentum like that keeps pressure on every brand above them.
