Volkswagen overtakes Toyota as the world’s biggest automaker

German auto giant Volkswagen has overtaken Japanese giant Toyota as the world's biggest carmaker in the first half of 2015, fulfilling its long-desired goal of acquiring the top spot.

Volkswagen sold 5.04 million vehicles globally in the first six months through June, against Toyota's 5.02 million. US topper General Motors (GM), which once held the No.1 position for decades, has come out third with 4.86 million vehicles.

According to industry analysts, the title means little from a practical perspective, but it serves as an effective gauge of global strategies in the business.

Research firm IHS' automotive analyst Tom Libby said, "It's certainly bragging rights and being able to communicate that they're the largest automaker in the world is a powerful statement. It's certainly something they're going to promote.''

It is still to be seen whether the German carmaker can hold on to the title in December. Although Volkswagen had come close to the front on several occasions in the highly competitive auto market, at the end it was either GM or Toyota who came out on top.

All the top three carmakers sold fewer cars in the first half compared to last year.

Volkswagen, which sold just 6.2 million cars in 2007, had set a goal to make it to the top slot by 2018. It superseded GM as the world's second-biggest automaker in 2013 selling 9.7 million vehicles (See: Volkswagen beats GM; tops Chinese car market).

The German maker of Polo and Golf models, with subsidiaries including Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Bugatti and Skoda, reported a 0.5-per cent fall in sales this year due to slowdown in China, the world's second-biggest car market and certain quality issues in the US, the world's biggest car market.  Sales in Europe continued to be robust, and last year, the company sold 10.14 vehicles globally.

''Volkswagen is snatching the sales crown in difficult times with major car markets in decline. They will need to withstand the slowdown in China if they want to keep the top spot,'' head of German auto specialist Stefan Bratzel told BBC in an interview.

Toyota, the maker of Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models, took the crown from GM in 2008 (Toyota overtakes GM's sales; emerges top auto seller in the world), and lost it in 2011 following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. However, the Japanese carmaker retook the position in 2012 and sold 10.23 million vehicles last year, beating Volkswagen and GM.

The company has faced difficulties this year particularly due to a weak Japanese market, selling 1.5-per cent less vehicles globally in the first half compared to last year.

According to some analysts, Toyota's focus is not No 1 spot as the company is more concerned about keeping profitability than chasing numbers.

GM, which makes the Cadillac and Opel cars, was third with 9.92 million vehicles in global sales last year.

Despite its top position in the US, and in China, the company's first half sales were down 1.2 per cent compared to last year.