Toyota retains top auto crown in 2025 with record sales

The global auto industry has named its new-car sales leader for 2025. Until recently, the top spot was held by Germany’s Volkswagen, which sold around 9 million vehicles. Now Japan’s Toyota has reported its own results.

The automaker from the Land of the Rising Sun had consistently led the global rankings for the previous five years. In 2025, Toyota set a new personal record and retained its leadership position, selling 11.6 million vehicles worldwide.

More than half of Toyota’s sales—56.1%—came from conventional gasoline-powered models. Hybrids accounted for 42% of total sales, while fully electric vehicles made up just 1.9%.

Over the past 16 years, Toyota has finished first in global auto sales for the 14th time. Since 2010, the Japanese automaker has surrendered the top spot only twice— in 2011 and 2019—when General Motors and the Volkswagen Group moved into first place.