Japan’s Toyota Motor sold more vehicles globally than any other carmaker in 2024, retaining the top spot for the fifth consecutive year.

The company says group sales worldwide came to more than 10.8 million units, which is down 3.7 percent from the previous year. The figure includes models made by subsidiaries Daihatsu and Hino.

The group’s unit sales in Japan dropped nearly 20 percent, weighing on its global number. That’s mainly due to production stoppages of some models after reports of rigged certification tests.

The scandal forced Toyota to halt some of its factory lines. Production in Japan excluding Toyota’s subsidiaries was down 7.2 percent from the previous year, at more than 3.1 million vehicles.

Still, it was just above Toyota’s 3-million-unit threshold, which it says is essential to maintain employment and technological capabilities.

The Toyota group managed to exceed sales by Germany’s Volkswagen, which sold a little more than 9 million vehicles.

Two other major Japanese makers saw declines. Honda Motor sold about 3.8 million units, down 4.6 percent. Nissan Motor reported a fall of 0.8 percent at around 3.3 million units.

Sales for both firms slumped in China. EVs and plug-in hybrids are increasingly popular in the country, which is the world’s biggest auto market.

Meanwhile, China’s BYD increased its presence, with global vehicle sales up 41 percent to nearly 4.3 million units, topping Honda and Nissan for the first time.