Volkswagen surpassed Toyota as the world's biggest car manufacturer.
VW, which manufactures family cars like the Volkswagen Golf and VW Routan, and luxury cars like the Volkswagen CC, has made 4.4 million cars this year. Toyota, on the other hand, has made 4 million.
Volkswagen has focused on growing markets in the economic downturn, releasing a range of models geared for the Chinese market and selling 128,000 cars there in July, 1/4 of their global sales for July.
China persuaded drivers to buy cars by cutting sales taxes and bringing in subsidies while the U.K. and Germany used schemes similar to cash-for-clunkers to boost sales.
Toyota's decision to cut its production rate by almost half, from 2.1 million to 1.1 million, in the first quarter also helped Volkswagen reach the top spot.
