Global sales title brings bragging rights, but not end game

Toyota has kept its global sales crown in the first quarter this year, though the slowdown it predicted is clearly at work. The Japanese company's global sales, including Daihatsu and Hino, contracted 2.5% in the January-March period to 2.52 million units. Despite the fall, it remained ahead of its nearest rivals Volkswagen group (2.49 million units, +1.8%) and General Motors (2.42 million units, +2%).