Ranking of motor vehicle manufacturers worldwide by global sales 2020-2021

At around 10.5 million units, the Toyota Motor Corporation ousted its largest rival, the Volkswagen Group, as the world's largest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Both manufacturers sell motor vehicles under various brands. While Toyota's sales tally includes sales of its Daihatsu and Hino brands, the Volkswagen Group delivered some 8.2 million sedans, sport-utility vehicles, and compact cars under its top passenger car brands, as well as around 899,900 trucks under its four commercial vehicle brands.

Vehicle manufacturers seek closure after a difficult year

Automakers had a cataclysmic 2020, with auto production and sales contracting amid the coronavirus outbreak in key markets. China was the first market to feel motor vehicle sales slump in February 2020, but have since recovered. The country has taken steps to curtail COVID-19 and improved sales figures in China provided a lifeline for Toyota and Volkswagen.

Do commercial vehicles count?

While two-wheelers are typically not taken into account when the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer title is awarded, there is an ongoing debate among Volkswagen Group’s competitors in the automotive sector on whether to factor commercial vehicles into the equation, or not. In 2018, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance claimed to be the leading automaker if only cars and light commercial vehicles were to be considered. Much of this alliance’s success has been credited to businessman Carlos Ghosn, and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi has been struggling since Ghosn was ousted as chairman of the alliance.