Toyota likely to fall to 3rd place in 2017 global auto sales

Wow. Seeing Volkswagen in that slot caught me off guard. Fond memories of the 69 VW bus I had back in California. Toyota still makes a quality vehicle but seems they are a hit in China.

 but seems they are a hit in China

The issue is basically that the Chinese gov't gave VW, Audi and GM preference over Japanese manufacturers in establishing factories in China. China is the world's biggest auto market.

renault nissan and mitsubishi should be count separately. Its a strategic alliance not a company

renault nissan and mitsubishi should be count separately

Fair point. But the others are also "groups" and include various brands (e.g. Volkswagen includes Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Skoda). Perhaps it would be better to see a table of top selling brands or models. Data for Quarter 1 in 2017 shows Toyota, Volkswagen and Ford as the three top selling brands.

I wonder what the actual top-selling model is. Given the India market, it could even be a Suzuki or a Tata, or something in China.

Toyota sort of own Daihatsu, Hino trucks and a stake in Subaru but do not seem to be including those. At least they seem to market their vehicles under their own names, unlike the others which seem to have a truckload of companies and makes under each of their corporate umbrellas.

renault nissan and mitsubishi should be count separately. Its a strategic alliance not a company, why VW group is made up of Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT and Skoda. Toyota group Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu Hino ,stake Fuji Industries (Subaru's parent company) and Isuzu. they all count these sales to their totals. Of the 3 groups Toyota is by far the most profitable 2017 est $21billion, VW $14billion

Mizumae

The issue is basically that the Chinese gov't gave VW, Audi and GM preference over Japanese manufacturers in establishing factories in China.

You're Japanese, aren't you? The issue is that Toyota wasn't ready to compromise and invest in China, by Chinese rules (49% owned by China, including current and future patents). Not China's fault here, really, and nobody really got any preferential treatment. China would have loved to get some Toyota patents and how-how as well.....

VW did extremly well there, by completely selling basically their old models (complete with the old but perfectly functional factory production lines being dismantled in Germany and transported to China). It was one of the most intelligent moves in the automotive industry of the past three decades, and it pays them now handsome dividends...

If the Company doesn't make profit as much as it rival Company and then No, 1 position is meaningless. Toyota Company is making profit more than Volkswagen.

*wtfjapan. ***Toyota group Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu Hino ,stake Fuji Industries (Subaru's parent company) and Isuzu. they all count these sales to their totals.**

Lexus and Scion are 100% owned by Toyota Company. The Subaru car (Subaru Corporation) sales was not counted in Toyota's total car sales and Toyota has owned 16.48 % shares in the Subaru Corporation. If Subaru cars sale was counted and then Toyota will be in No, 1 spot with over 10 million cars sale in 2017. Subaru has sold over one million cars in 2017.