World’s top carmaker in 2025 revealed

Toyota confirms its global leadership in 2025, retaining its position as the world’s top car manufacturer by sales volume for the sixth consecutive year.

According to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, between January and November, the Japanese automaker registered 10.32 million vehicles worldwide, while its main rival, Germany’s Volkswagen Group, sold 8.98 million units over the 12 months of 2025, marking a 0.5% decline compared to the previous year — well below Toyota’s partial volume, CE Report quotes ANSA.

Volkswagen’s slowdown is largely explained by difficulties in key markets, the report notes. In China, its main commercial outlet, deliveries fell by 8% to around 2.69 million vehicles, squeezed by growing competition from local manufacturers that are increasingly competitive in terms of technology and efficiency.

As reported by CE Report, in the United States, the impact was worsened by tariff measures revived by the Donald Trump administration, which led to a 10.4% drop in sales. Toyota, for its part, has held the crown since 2020, also thanks to the inclusion in its consolidated figures of subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor, specializing in city cars, and Hino Motors, a leader in light and heavy commercial vehicles. A strategy balancing hybrid and electric vehicles, less dependent on full-electric models than European rivals, which according to industry analysts continues to pay off in a global context still fragmented by infrastructure, industrial policies, and consumer preferences.