Volkswagen takes global sales lead despite its emissions crisis

Volkswagen dethroned Toyota last year to become the world’s best-selling carmaker for the first time, propelled by surging demand in China which has been largely unaffected by the diesel-cheating scandal.

Volkswagen sold a record 10.3 million vehicles in 2016, outpacing its rival with a 3.8% gain from a year earlier.

Toyota’s global sales, including its Hino Motors and Daihatsu units, rose 0.2% to 10.2 million vehicles in 2016, the Japanese carmaker said yesterday.