4. TOYOTA PIPS VW; KOREA BATTLES HARD

Toyota regained its global title in 2020, thanks to its expertise in hybrid powertrains and strong market positions in Japan and the US. The winning margin looks pretty decisive, too, with Toyota having ended the year on 7.27 million sales – a significant 1.86 million ahead of Volkswagen, which was more exposed because of its strong position in China and Europe, where COVID-19 hit hardest in the first half of the year.

The global switch to EVs rewarded the investment efforts of BMW, Kia, Hyundai and Mercedes, which strengthened their positions relative to rivals.