VW may find it hard to keep its place as world's top carmaker

Tokyo

VOLKSWAGEN overtook Toyota as the world's largest carmaker by sales in the first half year, achieving its long-held ambition three years ahead of target. But staying on top will be a challenge for the German maker of the Golf and Polo, as deliveries are falling in China, destination of a third of its global sales, making it overly reliant on relatively stagnant western European demand.

"The hunt for scale only makes sense if it boosts synergies, something VW hasn't really been able to achieve," said Stefan Bratzel, head of the Center of Automotive Management think-tank. "Dependence on China is VW's weak spot and managing such a large group inevitably poses problems."