With Toyota->ke88’s image and reputation stemming from the global recall of their vehicles due to safety issues taking a massive PR hit, the door has opened for a rival manufacturer to overtake the beleaguered Japanese brand in becoming the world’s largest automaker by 2018.

According to Bloomberg News, Volkswagen->ke94 has set its sights on dethroning Toyota as the world’s largest automaker. The German automaker, which owns a plethora of brands under its umbrella, has pegged a sales increase to more than 10 million units sold by 2018.

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While it already holds that distinction in Europe, Volkswagen has its eye on world auto domination and if we’re to use the two brand’s 2009 numbers as a preview of things to come – VW sales went up to 6.29 million units sold, a 1.1% increase while Toyota sales dropped 13% to 7.81 million – and add that to the fiasco Toyota currently finds itself in, then it’s tenuous stay on top may become more and more perilous as Volkswagen continues to nip at their heels.

Among the brands that Volkswagen has on its stable include Audi->ke14, Bentley->ke15, Bugatti->ke16, Lamborghini->ke44, Karmann, Porsche->ke1, Seat->ke80 and Skoda->ke82. While Porsche and Karmann aren’t scheduled to be integrated until 2011 and 2012, respectively, the company’s ‘Strategy 2018’ plan remains on schedule.

According to a VW statement, ‘Strategy 2018’ is the brand’s on-going mission to ‘seek global economic and environmental leadership in the automotive industry by 2018’.

With the way things are going, it might take a while for Toyota to rebuild its image to the public, which all but gives Volkswagen the opening it needs to overtake Toyota as the number one automaker in the world.