TOKYO -- Toyota may have fallen just short of General Motors in global vehicle sales last year, but it's beaten its U.S. rival in another measure -- global vehicle production. In the latest neck-and-neck numbers race between the world's top two automakers, Toyota said yesterday that it assembled a record 9,497,754 vehicles worldwide in 2007, up 5.3 percent from last year. That's about 213,000 more automobiles than the 9.284 million that GM made last year. Honda and other major Japanese automakers also reported strong annual output gains. Only Mazda said its production dropped. By sales, however, GM barely retained its lead over Toyota, selling 9,369,524 vehicles around the world, up 3 percent from the previous year, and about 3,000 vehicles more than its Japanese rival.
Toyota updated its sales tally for last year on Friday by adding three digits -- to 9,366,418. Earlier in the week, Toyota had said it sold 9.366 million vehicles globally, up 6 percent from 2006 -- allowing GM to retain its title as the world's No. 1 automaker for the 77th year. All big manufacturers are vying for sales in the United States, Europe and other established markets but also new markets, including India and China.
Toyota makes the best-selling Camry, along with Solara and Avalon cars, in Georgetown, Ky. Its plant in Princeton, Ind., produces the Tundra pickup, Sienna minivan and Sequoia sport-utility. Georgetown will also make the Venza crossover vehicle this year. Northern Kentucky-based Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America previously announced that output from its plants rose 10 percent to a record 1,671,009 vehicles last year.
Courier-Journal
