Volkswagen sales took a hit in 2024, but Toyota sales maintained the lead. According to our reports, Toyota sold almost 9.25 million cars worldwide in 2024, while Volkswagen sold nearly 9.03 million vehicles.
Apparently, 2024 wasn’t the best year for Volkswagen for a number of reasons, which ultimately led to less sales. Toyota sales have been dominating the charts for quite some time now. I think we all know the secret to that.
Toyota’s Secret Recipe isn’t Really a Secret
The reason why Toyota still managed to stay on top worldwide is because their cars are reliable and cost-effective. According to Toyota sales data, they also struggled to stay ahead in China. “Although market conditions remain severe due to factors such as intensifying price competition, sales were up year-on-year due to a successful sales promotion strategy linked to the government’s vehicle purchase subsidy policy and strong sales.”
Why the Decline?
Volkswagen sold nearly 9.03 million vehicles in 2024, 2.3% less than in 2023. However, the company still experienced growth in various markets. Sales were up 6% in North America and 15% in South America. Deliveries were down 0.1% and 10% in Europe and China, respectively.
Up until November 2024, Toyota sold 1,588,835 vehicles in China, a 7.7% decrease. Volkswagen sold 2,928,100, the same 9.5% decrease mentioned before. Even Tesla was outpaced by BYD in 2024, indicating that China is not messing around with automotive sales.
Chinese Automakers Have Turned The Tables
Almost every major automotive company has faced significant competition from local automakers in China. This was the major reason behind Volkswagen’s sales in 2024. Toyota, because of its variety of products, managed to stay afloat despite taking a minor hit.
Volkswagen in the Squeeze
Volkswagen faced significant challenges beyond sluggish car sales, including internal conflicts that diverted attention from its goals. After two years, Volkswagen of America lost its CEO, Pablo Di Si. The company’s substantial investment in electrification has led to major financial difficulties, leaving many of its traditional models struggling.
Although Volkswagen offers various electric vehicle options worldwide, none have gained significant market traction. The situation worsened at the end of the year when Volkswagen announced the closure of several production plants in Germany due to high operating costs.
Given all the issues occurring behind the scenes, it’s remarkable that the company sold as many vehicles as it did this year. Hopefully, 2025 will bring more stability to Volkswagen, resulting in increased global sales. Thanks for reading till the end. Let us know what you think about this in the comments. For more content like this, keep following the arabwheels blog.