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TOKYO — Toyota warded off Volkswagen to remain the world’s top-selling automaker for a third consecutive year, driven by record U.S. deliveries of its SUVs.
Worldwide sales for Toyota, including its Hino Motors and Daihatsu units, climbed 3 percent to 10.23 million vehicles last year, according to a company statement. Volkswagen last week reported a 4.2 percent gain to 10.14 million vehicles, including its two heavy-truck units. General Motors followed with 9.92 million sales, up 2.1 percent.
Surging demand for sport-utility vehicles including the compact RAV4 and midsize Highlander paced Toyota’s U.S. market share gain last year, spurring plans to boost local production and exports from Japan in 2015.
