VW to Challenge GM, Toyota in 2010

The fight for the world's number one carmaker title is getting fiercer as Volkwagen is hoping to challenge both Toyota and General Motors in 2010, in spite of forecasts of a gloomy market next year. The German brand expects the auto sector to remain at the same levels in 2010 but it still hopes to catch on the two current leaders, Toyota and General Motors.

"In our current planning for 2010, we are assuming a similar sales volume level for the overall passenger-car market as in 2009," the company quoted Francisco Garcia Sanz as saying according to Reuters.

"Worldwide we are still No. 3 by unit sales but have really closed the gap with the leaders. That should spur us on to shift up a gear, especially in the current situation."

Volkswagen isn't the only company that hopes to become the world's number one carmaker. Chinese manufacturer BYD revealed last week that it plans to boost sales in both the domestic and overseas markets so that it could fight Toyota and even snatch the leading position by 2025. Furthermore, it aims to become the largest carmaker in China by 2015 and sell more than 10 million units by 2025.

"We have plenty of time to become China's top carmaker by 2015 with a complete and mature product line-up. I am sure we can achieve the target earlier than scheduled," Wang Jianjun, deputy general manager of BYD Auto Sales Co told the China Daily. "BYD was also making efforts to overtake Toyota to become the world's No 1 carmaker in 2025, with annual sales of over 10 million cars expected by that time," Wang said.