TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp said Tuesday that its group sold 5.16 million vehicles worldwide in the first half of 2024, outselling German rival Volkswagen AG to retain the top spot in global sales for the fifth straight year.
But its global sales in the January-June period, including those of its small-car manufacturing unit Daihatsu Motor Co and truck-making subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd, fell 4.7% from a year earlier due to production halts stemming from a series of quality scandals and sluggish sales in China.
Volkswagen sold 4.35 million vehicles in the same period, down from 4.37 million a year earlier, according to the German company.
Toyota group's global production fell 9.8% to 5.07 million vehicles in the first six months, the automaker said.
The group's domestic sales slumped 32.0% to 823,595 vehicles as Daihatsu suspended production after it was found data in safety tests were rigged.
The small-car specialist resumed operations at all its domestic assembly plants in early May after a halt at its factories in December.
Toyota also halted some domestic production during the half-year period, admitting that it conducted vehicle tests in ways not specified by the government. A recent recall of the popular Prius hybrid car also pushed down the figure.
Overseas sales rose 3.1% to 4.34 million vehicles, thanks to robust demand in North America and Europe, Toyota said.
However, Toyota is struggling in China, with sales of the Toyota and upscale Lexus brands there logging a 10.8% drop. Price competition is intensifying, with local automakers growing their lineup of affordable electric vehicles.
In the first half, Toyota and Lexus sold a combined 4.89 million vehicles in the world, with Daihatsu and Hino selling 210,910 and 59,273, respectively.
