Volkswagen looking to overtake Toyota by 2015
24 Sep 2007
Frankfurt: German carmaker Volkswagen wants to overtake Japan''s Toyota as the world''s number one carmaker by the year 2014 or 2015, according to German industry magazine Auto Motor und Sport.
The magazine has quoted Michael Kern, head of sales and marketing for the VW Brand, as saying that the company wants to overtake Toyota in volumes and profitability. It further states that over the next three years VW will bring 12 new models to market, and will expand its presence in the United States, Russia, India and other markets.
Auto Motor und Sport cites company sources when saying that VW''s internal planning assumes that the company will surpass Toyota measured by production volumes by about 2014 or 2015.
According to the magazine, Toyota is expected to produce 9.34 million vehicles this year, and US auto major General Motors (GM) around 9.3 million.
Auto
Motor und Sport quotes Kern as saying that VW''s 2007 output would be in excess
of 6 million vehicles.