Toyota was confirmed for the third consecutive year as the world’s leading manufacturer in terms of volumes, beating once again the Volkswagen Group which finished in second place. The numbers show that in 2022 the Japanese group sold around 10.48 million vehicles globally, essentially breaking even with the previous year (-0.1%). Obviously, this classification also includes Lexus and its controlled brands such as Daihatsu and Hino Motors. The German group, on the other hand, suffered a decline in sales for the second consecutive year, with 2022 marking a -7% equal to 8.26 million vehicles delivered.
The explanations for this drop can be found in the logistical problems due both to the war in Ukraine and to the semiconductor crisis, which led to a slowdown in production and therefore in deliveries, but also in the heavy lockdowns in China, where the Volkswagen Group is very strong. The shortage of chips is a problem that afflicts the entire automotive sector but which Toyota has been able to manage better, even if on the domestic market it has suffered a contraction in production of 7.7%, which corresponds to 2.66 million vehicles, or rather the lowest level since 1976. Unlike those destined for other markets, in fact, cars made for the Japanese market need more advanced semiconductors to perform specific functions.
The contraction of production in the domestic market, however, was offset by the growth of that in North America and Asia, so that the global figure grew by 5.3%, to 10.61 million units. Going back to the German group, Central-Eastern Europe is the market where sales have decreased the most, with -32.9%. As for the brands, however, those that have suffered the most are Seat/Cupra and Skoda, respectively with -18.1% and -16.7%, followed by Volkswagen with -6.8% and Audi with – 3.9%. The latter data is also explained by the fact that in Wolfsburg they have decided to favor premium brands in supplies to the detriment of generalist ones, to protect profitability against the decline in sales.
