Toyota is the world's biggest carmaker in 2014

Toyota might have a smaller group of brands but it sure sells a lot more than the Volkswagen Group. Third year in a row, the Japanese carmaker has sold the most cars globally in a calendar year. Toyota clocked 10.23 million units in 2014, about 9 lakh more than the 10.14 million sold by Volkswagen. The company posted an increase in sales of three percent, helping the manufacturer cross the 10 million sales mark for the first time.

Toyota however is foreseeing a one percent drop in 2015 as the company expects slower demand in Japan and emerging markets. The Volkswagen group with its worldwide sales of 10.14 million also crossed the 10 million mark for the first time, growing at a faster rate of 4.2 percent. At this pace, if Volkswagen can maintain momentum through 2015, it could clinch the top spot from Toyota. 

Coming in third place is General Motors, delivering 9.92 million units worldwide, an increase in sales of two percent. A massive home market helped GM hold the crown for almost eight decades till 2008 when Toyota become the largest carmaker globally. Toyota held the crown for three years till 2010, lost it in 2011 back to General Motors and regained it from 2012.