Volkswagen May Be World's Largest Automaker

Volkswagen may have passed Toyota to be the world's largest automaker in sales last quarter, because of higher demand in its main markets, Reuters reported Friday, citing partial company data.

Volkswagen, with its nine car and truck brands, increased sales in China, Germany and Brazil, which accounted for 44 percent of its total last year, the report said, without providing sales figures.

The automaker is said to be benefiting from economic stimulus plans that have boosted sales in several countries "making it more likely that it beat Toyota or at least came close," the report found.