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Toyota sold more than 10.23 million vehicles last year, a figure that was enough to make it the largest car company in the world … again.

Sales increased by 3 percent thanks, in part, to its Daihatsu and Hino divisions. Because of this the Japanese automaker narrowly edged out Volkswagen AG to drive away with the top spot. Twenty-fourteen may have been another banner year for the capital T but things aren’t necessarily looking as good this calendar year.

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Toyota’s deliveries are forecast to slump 1 percent to around 10.15 million units. Slowing demand in its home country and emerging markets is to blame. The company’s forecasting experts expect deliveries to drop by 9 percent in Japan this year. This would be the first year-over-year decline for the firm since 2011, when a disastrous tsunami broadsided a huge portion of the country.

In comparison, VW delivered 10.14 million vehicles last year. So, even though Toyota was No. 1 their lead was miniscule. In 2014 both brands crossed the 10-million mark for the first time. GM’s global sales climbed by around 2 percent, finishing the year with around 9.92 million units sold.

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[Source: Automotive News]

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