Toyota could lose top automaker crown

Toyota is in danger of losing its crown as the world's biggest automaker this year, as its sales fall behind those of German rival Volkswagen, new figures showed on Thursday.

The Japanese giant, which has held the title for four years in a row, was outsold by Volkswagen in the first half of the year, as key North American sales fell and disaster-linked factory stoppages hit production.

The maker of Camry and Prius sold 4.99 million vehicles worldwide in the six months through June, edging down from a year earlier.