AKIPRESS.COM - Toyota remains number 1 in global vehicles sales after the first six months of this year, followed by Volkswagen, which bumped General Motors out of second place as the US carmaker grapples with a recall scandal.

Japanese Toyota Motor Corp announced on Wednesday January-June global sales totalled 5.097 million vehicles, up nearly 4 per cent from a year earlier.

Volkswagen of Germany sold 4.97 million vehicles in the first half, outpacing General Motors Co at 4.92 million vehicles.

VW's sales are growing faster than that of Detroit-based GM, which is grappling with a major recall scandal.

Toyota finished at the top last year with a record 9.98 million vehicles. GM was second and VW third. Toyota expects to sell more than 10 million vehicles this year, a milestone in the industry.