The Japanese group recorded an increase of 10.1 percent compared to the previous year.
(Photo: dpa)
Dusseldorf The Toyota group coped with the global supply crisis for semiconductors much better than its long-term rival Volkswagen. The Japanese company not only defended its top position as the world’s largest car manufacturer, but even increased the gap to the VW group despite the lack of chips.
As Toyota announced on Friday, the group, which also includes the small car manufacturer Daihatsu and the commercial vehicle manufacturer Hino Motors, sold 10.5 million vehicles last year. This is an increase of 10.1 percent over the previous year. Meanwhile, Volkswagen had to accept a drop in sales of 4.5 percent to 8.88 million vehicles last year.
The global sales figures have been going down for the Wolfsburg company for two years. In 2019, i.e. before the corona and chip crisis, the Wolfsburg-based company was able to sell around 10.9 million vehicles with all its brands. This marks the highlight of the company’s history so far; the VW group was thus also the world’s largest car manufacturer, ahead of Toyota.
Due to the pandemic, Volkswagen then had to accept significant losses in 2020. Sales fell to around 9.3 million vehicles. Toyota fared similarly; sales slipped to 9.5 million. The Japanese group was able to regain the title as the world’s largest car manufacturer. Before that, Volkswagen had been at the top for five consecutive years.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
While Volkswagen and Toyota were hit almost equally by the corona pandemic in 2020, the two car manufacturers have diverged in the past year. The VW Group has remained much more in crisis mode than its long-term competitor.
>>> Also read: The US government expects a chip crisis by the end of 2022 and wants to investigate price fixing
There is no sign of an upward movement in Wolfsburg. The chip crisis and other supplier problems caused sales to slip noticeably again in the second year of Corona. Above all, the supply problems with semiconductors hit Volkswagen much harder than Toyota last year. In many factories, especially in the main plant in Wolfsburg, production was suspended for weeks because the components were missing.
Toyota had stocked up better with chip reserves, and the breaks in production were not as severe as with the German industry leader. In addition, the Japanese group has more direct contacts with large chip producers in Asia. In 2022, the order of the world’s two largest automakers is unlikely to change much; Toyota will probably be able to defend its top spot again.
Volkswagen has already announced that the supply situation for semiconductors will be anything but easy again this year. The US government, for example, has recently made a similar statement. A noticeable improvement in the situation can probably only be expected after the summer break. VW Sales Director Klaus Zellmer said in an interview with the Handelsblatt that things are looking up after the holiday months. He spoke of “a gradual recovery in the second half of the year”.
However, Toyota also warned on Friday of possible new problems with parts supply. “The outlook for this year remains uncertain,” said the Japanese automaker.
More: Chip crisis makes new cars in short supply – but the car companies earn splendidly.