The Dream of 2009 is Alive in 2017: Volkswagen Named Sales Winner, by a Hair

It’s a good news kind of day in Wolfsburg, despite fears of further indictments from U.S. authorities and an ongoing investigation by pesky German investigators.

After spending years jockeying with rival Toyota for the sales crown, Volkswagen finally pulled ahead in 2016 to become the world’s top automaker, fulfilling a goal set in 2009. The architect of that global dominance strategy — ex-CEO Martin Winterkorn — might not share the elation of his former colleagues, as he is currently under investigation for fraud.

In total, Volkswagen Group divisions delivered 10.3 million vehicles last year, topping Toyota’s tally by a thin margin. The previously best-selling automaker sold 10.2 million, making this race something of a photo finish.

Still, despite the closeness of the results, a podium is a podium. The scandal-plagued automaker saw its global sales fall significantly in 2015, hitting 9.9 million for the year, but controversy wasn’t enough to stop growing demand for the brand in China, as well as the surging popularity of the premium Audi and Porsche brands.

Meanwhile, Toyota saw its sales rise modestly from just under 10.1 million units sold in 2015. The latest full-year tally is less than the 10.3 billion the automaker recorded in 2014.

Both automakers are counting on new or refreshed utility vehicles to stimulate U.S. sales. Toyota will launch the C-HR crossover this year, while Volkswagen recently released the midsize Atlas and a larger Tiguan. It’s difficult to predict how an increased emphasis on style at the traditionally staid Toyota will play out with buyers.

The folks in Wolfsburg has best enjoy this victory, as there are growing signs that next year could see the automaker cede the crown to its rival. Headwinds are growing in key markets, Bloomberg reports. In China, a small-engine tax looms, threatening to snuff out the brand’s growth. Meanwhile, VW plans to scale back the leasing fleet it makes available to its vast German workforce.

There’s also the unanswered question of how President Trump’s proposed trade policies will impact European automakers — making for a year of uncertainty, and not just for Volkswagen.

[Image: Volkswagen]