Japan's Toyota Motor overtook Germany's Volkswagen in vehicle sales last year as the global health crisis demand slump hit its German rival harder.

Toyota said on Thursday its group wide global sales fell 11.3% to 9.5 million vehicles in 2020.

That was compared with around a 15% drop it Boggs.

Bargain automakers have suffered as lockdowns have stopped people visiting car showrooms on forced manufacturing plants to reduce or halt production.

Toyota, however, has weathered the pandemic better.

That's partly thanks to its home market Japan on the Asian region in general, which has been less affected by the outbreaks, and Europe and the United States.

As demand for cars rebounds, particularly in China, Toyota, Volkswagen and other manufacturers are scrambling to tap growing demand for electric cars.