Business     

Toyota reclaims title as top automaker

Agencies via Shanghai Daily, January 30, 2013

• Toyota is once again the world's top automaker. [File Photo]

  It's official: Toyota is once again the world's top automaker.

  Toyota Motor Corp on Monday released its tally for global vehicle sales for last year at a record 9.748 million vehicles - more than last month's estimate of about 9.7 million vehicles.

  It was already clear Toyota had dethroned General Motors Co as the Detroit-based automaker fell short, selling 9.29 million vehicles.

  GM had been the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades before losing the title to Toyota in 2008.

  GM retook the sales crown in 2011, when Toyota's production was hurt by the quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

  The latest results show Toyota's powerful comeback.

  Global vehicle sales for the maker of the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury model surged nearly 23 percent from the previous year. Overseas sales jumped 19 percent, while sales in Japan, where the economy has stalled, recovered a whopping 35 percent.

  Volkswagen AG of Germany, the world's No. 3 automaker, sold a record 9.1 million vehicles.

  All three automakers play down the significance of the sales ranking.

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved