After a tough year for all of the auto manufacturers, Volkswagen has seized the top spot from Toyota, and is well on their way to “domination,” to quote their press department. VW has managed to sell 4.4 million cars since January, as compared to Toyota’s 4 million even. Much of VW’s success has been due to qualifying for government rebates in almost every country that offered them, and to a very successful (read 128,000 sales in one month) launch of their products in the Chinese market. Ze Germans plan to continue their offensive with the New Midsize Sedan in North America, the 2011 beaching of the Phaeton on our shores, and a redesigned 2012 Beetle. World domination might really come to pass… their founders would be proud.

[Guardian and Volkswagen]