Toyota aims to sell 10.4 million vehicles in 2009

[Newbiewar]

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp aims to sell around 10.4 million vehicles worldwide in 2009, up 18 percent from last year as it grabs market share in North America and taps growing demand in China and other emerging economies, business daily Nikkei reported on Wednesday.

Clearing the 10 million milestone would be an auto industry first and likely cement Toyota's position as the world's biggest car maker. Toyota surpassed General Motors Corp to take the top spot in 2006, according to Automotive News.

"It is incrementally good news," said CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets auto analyst Christopher Richter, who estimates Toyota's sales for 2009 at 10.2 million units. "They continue to win share in the U.S. market and that's more than made up for what the direction of the market has taken of late," he added.

U.S. auto sales dropped in July as weakness in the housing market sapped demand, raising concern about the further impact of credit squeeze on U.S. consumption.

The Nikkei newspaper said the new target includes sales by subsidiaries Hino Motors Ltd and Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd and the plan will be announced on August 31 when the company is expected to hold a briefing on business plan.

In 2006, Toyota sold 8.8 million vehicles, slightly falling short of General Motors Corp's 9.1 million, according to the Nikkei.

Toyota declined to comment on the news report.

Toyota is cranking up market share in mature regions such as North America and Europe with fuel-efficient cares such as the Prius hybrid and RAV4 crossover as well as entry into the full-sized pickup truck segment with the Tundra.

Detroit-based weekly Automotive News said in June that Toyota outsold GM by about 128,000 units last year based on a technicality that excludes sales of vehicles at minority-held subsidiaries. GM, meanwhile, has claimed the top spot for 76 years, including 2006.

Richter of CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets said Toyota will likely gain a sizable lead against GM going forward.

"Now the gap between them is very small and Toyota is slightly number one. But the image I have when I look at it is that the gap between these companies will get bigger as time passes," he said.

The Nikkei report failed to lift Toyota shares, which ended down 0.5 percent at 6,500 yen. The benchmark Nikkei average finished the day virtually flat.

[Newbiewar]

perhaps i dont remember exactly... but GM still hasnt lost the annual sales as the world leader...

"General Motors Corp. said Wednesday it sold 9.09 million cars and trucks worldwide in 2006, a nearly one per cent decline from 2005, as sales in the U.S. faltered.

The world's largest automaker sold 9.17 million vehicles in 2005.

Its biggest rival, Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, has said that it expects final totals to show it sold 9.04 million vehicles in 2006

"

or as in this own article... it says

"In 2006, Toyota sold 8.8 million vehicles, slightly falling short of General Motors Corp's 9.1 million, according to the Nikkei."

so someone tell me, what kind of journalist will site two sources that suggest different things... if toyota sold 8.8 million or 9.04.. its still less then 9.09 million

i dont care if toyota wants to include some other companies sales... those arent vehicle sales...

what if gm tracked all the humvees sold to the government? cause its estimated to be near 200k this year or next...

[toesuf94]

Future Headline 2010: "Toyota Recalls 10.4 million vehicles..."

Let them sell all they can make. Take the Bullseye off of GM for a while. Let Toyota expose itself as a corporate giant that is depleting resources and destroying the Earth. Good for them.

I still won't buy one. Ever. Honda, Either.

[Dsuupr]

Future Headline 2010: "Toyota Recalls 10.4 million vehicles..."

That was the first thing that came to mind.

[scharmer05]

Toyota......moving forward......to self-destruction

[Sixty8panther]

Toyota aims to sell 10.4 million vehicles in 2009

next up... in 2010:

Toyota Recalls 11.4 million vehicles.

[PurdueGuy]

*shakes head* One of Toyota's claims to fame is it's Toyota Production System, which is supposed to keep the company focused on lean manufacturing, etc. Deciding two years ahead of time that they're going to make/sell a certain number of vehicles is an affront to lean manufacturing. They're not even doing what they supposedly do right, right!

GM, keep focusing on design, quality, proper marketing, and let the stupid "biggest" title go if it goes. Pick your fights - that one isn't worth it. Just keep giving people reasons to come back.

[Newbiewar]

wonder how much this morgage catastraphy will expose toyota... and if they have over production and vehicles sitting on boats and lots and everywhere... how quickly it will reap their capital...

my mom told me in 2003 when many creative financing programs came out... she said 5 years and the banks would have a massive problem...

we'll see how much it unfolds

[gm4life]

I think with the new Malibu and CTS, GM will finish strong the last half of '07. The Enclave is still just taking off also. Not even every Buick dealer has recieved one!

Edited August 25, 2007 by gm4life