Which automaker was the largest by sales in 2023?

Toyota was the largest automaker by global vehicle sales in 2023.

Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiaries sold about 11.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2023, placing it ahead of Volkswagen Group. The total included Toyota and Lexus vehicles, as well as sales reported by subsidiaries Daihatsu and Hino. It was Toyota’s fourth consecutive year at the top of the global sales ranking.

The wording “largest by sales” means the greatest number of vehicles sold, not the highest revenue, market value, or profit. Rankings can vary if researchers count only passenger cars or define corporate groups differently. Toyota’s strength came from its broad lineup, including hybrids, pickup trucks, compact cars, and luxury Lexus models.

A neighbouring fact often causes confusion: Volkswagen Group includes several brands, such as Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, SEAT, and Porsche. That makes it a much larger corporate group than the Volkswagen brand alone, but Toyota still led the commonly cited 2023 global unit-sales ranking.