Volkswagen has surpassed Toyota as the world's largest car manufacturer, according to figures in The Guardian newspaper.

Citing estimates by IHS Global Insight, VW has produced 4.4 million vehicles in the first nine months of the year. That's more than the 4 million made by Toyota, the newspaper said.

IHS Global Insight said the move by VW, which is building a plant in Chattanooga, was aided by Toyota's decision to halve its output in the first quarter.

Ford was in third place with a total of 3.7 million units and General Motors dropped to fourth with a total of 3.6 million.